Students are generally restless at this time during a normal school year; it is mid-May, and students sense that summer is around the corner. Add distance learning, and it can be a real struggle right now. Mrs. Jessup and Ms. Shaw have suggestions that may help your student(s) through this difficult time.
- Stick to routines as much as possible – Anxiety and emotional dysregulation thrive in unstructured, unpredictable environments. Keep mealtimes, bedtimes, school time as consistent as is realistic for your family.
- Create things to look forward to – Build something into each day or week that your child and family can look forward to. For instance, camping in the backyard, baking a cake just because it’s Friday, creating a special movie night at home like it’s the movie theater with tons of candy and popcorn! This really helps fight all the loss kids are experiencing.
- Focus on the positive – We get to spend more time as a family. Also focus on looking for the good out in the world; as Mr. Rogers said, “Look for the helpers.”
- Talk about feelings daily and validate them – This helps children feel understood and that their experience matters. Do “rose and thorn” of your day—just like high and low—at dinnertime or bedtime to talk about feelings.
- Keep the connections alive – We are social beings and really need it more than ever now to cope! Set up FaceTimes with friends and family, come to class Zooms, go on walks and bike rides, build in daily one-on-one time with your child.
Continue to email pictures of your distance learning to Jonna Skokan. #bekind #courageouscatholicschools
