It’s not just books and backpacks to keep an eye on for the coming school year, but psychological wellbeing.
Jonathan Ponser, a licensed counselor and manager of child and family therapy for Memorial Behavioral Health, says not all kids will make the adjustment to in-person instruction in the same way.
“Those who have been more socially engaged,” he said, “may have an easier time. Those who—maybe for the protection of their health or the health of others—have had had fewer social interactions may respond with more anxiety.”
Ponser says when kids ask lots of questions about what to expect, as five-day-a-week, in-person instruction resumes, you should keep in mind that often they are also seeking emotional support.
With most Springfield District 186 classes starting one month from today (August 23rd) it’s not too soon, said Ponser, to adjust your child’s sleep patterns and begin encouraging other more regular habits of structure and routine, like reasonable amounts of structured time for reading and away from video games and phones.
“In terms of electronics, that’s one thing most households would want to have a set rule about—when it’s all right to have access to them and when not. We want to put those away a good hour or so before bedtime.”
Ponser suggests a community charging station in a common area of the house where all phones and devices can reside together (parents’ too!) during designated hours of non-use.
Simple things like back-to-school shopping for supplies, clothes, etc. can also bring a feeling of familiarity and normalcy to students who might otherwise feel anxious about returning to in-person classes after more than a year.