The abrupt transition to online schooling left many students feeling stressed, anxious, and in distress as they were forced to abandon familiar learning environments for a new normal of virtual engagement. As a new school year begins, many students must once again make a difficult transition, this time back to the traditional school classrooms we once took for granted. With this may come similar feelings of uncertainty, worry, and stress as students engage in a sort of grieving process, adjusting to substantial change while perhaps holding on to the digital landscapes that have now become all too familiar.
What We Can Do. As parents, it is our responsibility to be in tune with the cues our children may be expressing as they head back to school. Now more than ever, it is essential we do not dismiss, but instead honor the signs of anxiety, stress, or other emotions your child may be exhibiting so that we might provide additional support and guidance. Students will once again need to navigate a process of re-adjustment which will certainly look different for everyone. Some children may jump right back in, while others may be slower to once again seek out activities they once enjoyed. This is to be expected. Yet, providing students with some extra motivation and encouragement to safely re-engage with the world can go a long way!
At Novella Prep, our programs incorporate the very best in time management and social-emotional learning to foster student engagement in enriching academic or extracurricular activities. Whether it’s taking the family dog for a walk around the neighborhood with friends, joining a school club, or attending a local after-school art class, it is our priority to ensure students feel supported as they re-adjust and re-engage this school year. Dedicating time in a student’s daily schedule for exploration, exciting activities, or simply getting back out into the world can prepare them to make the most of the opportunities around them.
Through this methodology, placing students’ individualized mental and emotional well-being at the very center, we can ensure our children feel supported and motivated to not only get back to school but back to a student lifestyle that is engaging, meaningful, and exciting!