I am an educator and a mom. I understand and realize how important education is and what places kids can go with proper guidance and focus! Most, if not all, schools have opened in-person here in USA. Many countries around the world are also getting ready to start calling students back to campus. It is a great first step towards normalcy, and I am excited to see my students (and my own children) going back to classroom after almost 18 months of virtual learning. In today’s post I write about how to make sure your students are successful as they start back school. Read on about 10 back to school tips for post pandemic school success.
Background
In US, 5 year olds start kindergarten. Most parents chose to send their younger kids to preschool or daycare to help them develop social and academic skills before starting at a public or private school. Working parents may send their kids as early as 6 weeks to 6 months of age, if they have to return back to their jobs. All early education centers now have curriculum that takes care of emotional, physical, social, and age appropriate academic skills. Hands-on learning as well as cooperative (group work) learnings are emphasized and encouraged. Students in elementary grades learn to make friends, and continue this social emotional learning well into secondary schools. Since COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, schools have been providing virtual learning, and slowly many schools around the world are coming back to providing face to face in-person education. To make sure our students are successful going back to school after almost 18 months hiatus, read on the below 10 post pandemic school success tips.
Post Pandemic School Success: 10 back to school tips
- Have a routine
Getting back to the daily 8 hour grind outside the home will be difficult and having a routine in place will be helpful to kids and parents alike. Make sure your kids are going to bed at a set time so they get adequate night sleep- 8 hours minimum for any age group; younger kids may need more sleep. Waking up fresh and ready is vital to learning, and will help them not getting tired at school. Once back from school, depending on time and situation, a short nap can be beneficial for most students.
2. Include time to relax and take time out
School work will include home work, classwork, projects and tests. Make sure your students are getting ample time to relax. Take time out to de-stress and take a break. Outdoors or family time are excellent ways to spend quality time together.
Related: Read this post about 6 fun outdoor activities
3. Use journaling or mindfulness activities
Self care in the form of mindfulness can help you and your child be fully present in the moment. It can help lower stress, improve focus and lead to better health. Activities like journaling and meditation can be started early, which can then be practiced and can become part of their lives as kids grow up.
4. Take it slow and steady
Remind your students to practice patience and delayed gratification. These are small ways to develop habits of mind, which can lead to happiness and success in life. Show by modeling- remember you are your kids’ best teacher!
5. Reach out to school or teachers
If your kid is struggling, especially with the break of learning due to COVID, be aware that the education system is there to support you and your child. Teachers, educators and trainers all around the world are aware of the possible learning gaps, and are readily available for individualized learning plans for your child. Remember you are not alone, and it does take a village to raise a child!
Related: Read this post about how to motivate all students
6. Help students practice self care and self love
Just like as adults we learn to take care of our needs first, teach your kids to develop habits of self care and self love. No one can give out of an empty bucket, and our kids are no exception. Their basic needs have to be met, before they are ready to learn and grasp new concepts in the 4 walls of a classroom setting at any school.
7. Have couple extra curricular activities in addition to academics
Extra curricular activities are excellent ways to engage kids in physical and mental exercises. They give break from studies, and may motivate your students to pursue a hobby or interest outside of school. Help them explore by providing varied options and let them try few to see what they like the best to continue.
Related: Read this post about 4 types of hobbies to pursue
8. Reach out to friends and classmates/neighbors
Post-pandemic, many people have come to realize how important social relations and engagements are. Connect with their friends and family, and find ways to strengthen their friendship.
9. Give them your time and make them feel their value and importance
2020 has been a very hard year for all of us, and 2021 is not so different. Kids need to be reminded again and again, that they are very important and valuable to you. Academics and good grades are just one aspect of life, and are not the only things that matter. Show your love through words and actions, and make them feel appreciated and loved.
10. Be patient as everyone tries to get back to routine
Patience is a virtue not only for our kids, but also for us as parents and adults. We have to remember that everyone is trying their best to get back to normalcy, and keep the hope that things are getting back to routine slowly. We are almost there, so keep up the pace and chin up during these trying times.
Conclusion
As our kids return back to in-person learning, I shared 10 post pandemic school success tips. Most, if not all, students have had a hiatus of 18 months with virtual learning. With some learning gaps and trying to get back to routine, parents have an important role in ensuring student success in addition to educational agencies.
We would love to hear from you. Do share your tips and strategies that are working for your own kids. How are your kids liking going back face to face? How do you think you are getting them prepared for the transition? I am an educator and mom, and would love to read your success stories.
21 replies on “Back to school tips after COVID”
Great tips for a successful school year….successful for both parents and kids. Thanks for sharing your ideas!
You are welcome, Victoria!
These are really great tips! Luckily here in Norway we only had 6 weeks of online learning for elementary school kids in March and April 2020. I can imagine that going back to school will be a huge change for the kids after all that time at home.
Wow, really? Only 6 weeks online, that’s great!
Yeah I know! We feel very lucky.
The transition to home schooling and now back to school is huge for children, parents, teachers and all the support people in the little one’s lives need to have extra patience and grace and be ready to talk about unexpected topics that come up as our world continues forging forward through this pandemic.
Agree Lisa, lots of un-learning and re-learning and being flexible. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
I love all of these tips. My daughter starts this week!
Thanks dear fellow educator! Best wishes to M!
Love these! My toddler is just starting pre-school this year and I have been a bit nervous!
After a year and half of virtual learning, we need to find our rhythm again. We create a definite schedule to follow before, during and after school hours.
That is great, so needed!
Indeed, going back to school will be a challenge for many after so much time. It does need preparation and careful planning.
It really is a whole new world when it comes to school these days, all new rules and all new decorum.
Kids were leading a new normal since last year and now its time to back to old normal and surely they need to gear up for this huge change. Your tips will surely help kids to face this transition smoothly.
Your suggestions are excellent and so timely. I look forward to hearing how things go when school starts back to normal.
These are excellent tips to help cope with this strange transitional time. I like the part about connecting with their friends and their family. After being so isolated, it’s so important to restrengthen our communities.
Totally agree, strengthening community for sure!
thank you for sharing these helpful tips. here in Philippines, there’s no face to face class yet.
Strange times we are living in at the moment. You are right, we need to all be patient with our kids (and ourselves) as we return to “normal”.
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