Practical Tips for Returning to Learning During COVID-19

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:: Disclaimer :: This post contains sponsored content brought to Fort Worth Moms by ACH Child and Family Services.

ACH provides parents with tips and a video series that can help the transition back to school.

The beginning of every school year brings a sense of anxiousness to both children and parents. To many it means having to shop for school supplies, uniforms, and establishing a new routine. Preparing for a new school year can be scary, especially during a pandemic. 

COVID-19 has affected almost every single person on this planet, and if you’re like many parents in North Texas, you still don’t know how the school year will start, and what the best choice is for your family. Should your child be in a classroom or be doing school from home? As you scramble to prepare the best you can, children are also feeling confused. This can cause high emotions in your household. 

Free Webinar with Educators from FWISD and Other Schools

ACH Child and Family Services‘ counseling and skill-building program, Real Help for Real Life, has coordinated with Fort Worth educators to develop the best tips to help you transition your child into the school year. You can also join a discussion by joining the Uncertainty is Real webinar (more information below). Through the webinar and the tips below, you can better connect with your child to overcome the anxieties and challenges the new school year brings.

    1. Help Your Child Prepare. Regardless of whether you choose to start the year in-person or virtual, talk to your child about what he or she can expect. Discuss what the classroom might look like, what the transportation to school will be, and shifts between going virtual to in-person learning. 
    2. Discuss COVID-19 as a Family. Through multiple conversations, explain the virus and its various symptoms. Be honest with your kids but assure them that there are ways to stay safe. Always washing hands, wearing a mask, and social distancing are ways they can do this. 
    3. Prepare With Your Child’s School. Find out what your child’s school is going to do to keep classrooms, cafeterias, and playgrounds safe and how the school plans to implement that with the students. Find out what happens if a child tests positive for COVID-19. If your child requires special needs, ask how services can still be safely received.
    4. Learning at Home. Maintaining structure for your child is key to virtual schooling and keeping focused. Start every day the same way and have multiple breaks with some time spent outside. Using creative methods for presenting schoolwork can help your child say focused. Creating daily and weekly goals can be helpful as well. 
    5. Catching Up. Many children had to learn from home at the end of the last school year. The adjustment may have been hard and caused students to fall behind. This is something you should look out for and discuss with your child’s teacher to get back on track.  
    6. Calming Anxieties. With all the uncertainties COVID-19 brings, there is sure to be some anxiety when school starts. Establishing a routine and practicing mindfulness will help deal with overwhelming emotions. Role-playing how to handle stress when it occurs will also be useful. When anxiety becomes too overwhelming, reach out to your child’s teacher or school counselor to connect with mental health resources, including Real Help for Real Life by ACH Child and Family Services.

      Real Help for Real Life counselor Zaira Rico can show you how to help your child deal with anxiety in their video series, Real Tips for Trying Times.
    7. Ensure Healthy Nutrition. A healthy diet is always important, especially for children, and it can play a significant role in emotions. Keep children hydrated with water and provide healthy snacks to help stay regulated. Having a snack about every two hours can help regulate your child’s blood sugar and can prevent irritability and anxiousness.

      Real Help for Real Life counselor Kara Holmes shares the importance of staying active, powering down, and refueling. 
    8. Connect with Your Child: Maintaining a sense of connection between you and your child is key because it will help him or her express feelings and build trust. Some of the ways you can do this are through play, following a routine, eye contact, speaking in a soft tone, and identifying feelings.

      Hear Real Help for Real Life counselor Christin Norman explain the importance of playful engagement.
    9. Model Desirable Behaviors. Being a role model for your child is essential when trying to implement healthy behaviors. You should model good hygiene, social distance, and wear a mask. Limit your child’s exposure to your own stress when possible and demonstrate coping behaviors.
    10. Ask for Help. When feeling overwhelmed, it’s important for parents to reach out. Your child’s teacher, school counselor, or a therapist or doctor can give guidance. 

This school year brings many uncertainties, and every parent will have individual difficulties making the transition. The best thing you can do is simply try your best and keep your family safe. No one has all the answers, but ACH is here to help. 

Real Help for Real Life is holding free webinars this month to discuss these tips and answer questions from parents about the upcoming year. Uncertainty is Real: Tips for Heading Back to School During a Pandemic will run August 12–26 during afternoons and evenings. 

As always, ACH Child and Family Services is here to support families during COVID-19. Learn more about our services at ACHservices.org.

ACH logoWith over a century of experience, ACH, a Fort Worth-based nonprofit agency, brings needed resources and skills to children and families struggling with life’s challenges. Some of its 17 programs and services keep children and families together while others provide a healing home for children who can’t live with their families. And through the its Our Community Our Kids division, ACH is leading the way in community-based care in seven counties of the Texas foster care system. Its vision is for families to thrive and children to experience safety, hope, and love. Find ACH on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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