Helping Our Children Return to School

​by Kathy Cap, LLPC, NCC

Kathy Cap is a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC) in private practice at Trinity Family Counseling Center. She is a graduate of Oakland University with a Masters in Counseling and joins Trinity after a number of years in a solo practice. Kathy enjoys working with couples, and adults of all ages, including those older adults facing an array of life transitions related to health changes, loss, and caregiving.

Whether your kids are returning to the classroom, virtual learning or a hybrid of both one thing is for certain, this school year will be unlike any we have experienced.

As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in what needs to happen to prepare for this unprecedented academic year but more than ever, it’s essential to stop and check-in with your kids.

The pandemic has been especially difficult for young people. They have been socially isolated from their friends, other family members as well as their teachers. They have not been able to participate in sports, academic, or social clubs for months and now they are about to begin an uncertain school year. It doesn’t matter if they are in college or starting middle school, just take some time to see how they feel about all the changes taking place. How do they feel about wearing a mask all day? Are they anxious about possibly getting sick? Will things ever be the same?

​These are all justified concerns and warrant a discussion.
  
Begin by listening and validating their concerns. Normalize their anxiety.  Help them see what they can control. For example, explain to them that they can minimize their chances of infection by wearing a mask or avoiding crowds. Offer a different perspective by focusing on the positive. Encourage them to journal, enjoy their hobbies or activities that help them relax. The most important thing you can do is let them know is that you are here for them.