It’s been a few months now since children stopped going to their classrooms, suddenly, without even having the opportunity to say goodbye to anything or anyone. The 2019/2020 school year has come to an end, and we leave behind a year that had an unexpected, confusing, and different ending, to say the least.
What will classes be like after Coronavirus?
Some children, next September, will probably return to their schools, with their friends and perhaps even with the same teacher. Others, however, will start a new school, new classmates, and new teachers, or they will go to school for the first time in their short lives. This last group is the one that personally concerns me the most: the little ones aged 0 to 3. While they concern me, many parents worry about them. They, the little ones, however, are not worried, not in the least, because they have that precious and amazing ability, which, by the way, most adults should re-learn, and it is none other than living the moment, living the present, living the NOW. Whatever resonates most with you.
They don’t anticipate; they are not thinking about the conditions under which they will return to school, whether they will go with friends or not, whether they will like the new teacher, or even if the measures related to COVID-19 will be a nuisance and a hassle. Nor will they worry if there might be a resurgence and they have to confine themselves again while both mom and dad telework.
Nothing, none of this worries the little ones, because none of this is real. The only real thing is that it’s summer now, and there’s no need to go to school anymore (Well, only a few go or will soon go to summer schools).
School Uncertainty after Coronavirus
So, while children are focused on living in the present and enjoying the summer, some parents feel more fearful, more anxious, and with more uncertainty than ever regarding the return to school: will the measures taken by the government against Coronavirus be safe and sufficient? How long will this situation last? Will school adaptation be even more difficult in this uncertain scenario? How can I help my child have a good adaptation to school?
Well, there isn’t much we can do for them yet in this regard, but there is something we can do now, and that is to fill their backpack with moments of connection, mindfulness, understanding, enjoyment, joy, laughter, and shared time.
And my question is, is there anything you can do for yourself to experience your child’s adaptation period in a calmer and more peaceful way? My recommendation in this regard is that; if the situation worries you, stop projecting your fears and your anxiety towards September, live the
present moment, observe yourself and ask yourself: what am I afraid of? What does what I feel connect me with? What moment from my past does it remind me of?
I am here and now
Own your story, take responsibility, and learn from it. Don’t burden your child with the weight of your backpack and hold on to the mantra “I am HERE
AND NOW”.
If you pay attention to putting these recommendations into practice, you will almost certainly handle the adaptation period better, and if parents handle it well, children are better off.
So, this summer; moms and dads, we do have homework. HAPPY SUMMER!