Summer Ready

For parents and caregivers looking to get a head-start on helping their child prepare for back-to-school, we asked our child and youth mental health workers for their advice on what steps you can take now to make things a little easier come September.

Download: 5 Expert Mental Health Tips to Help Kids Start Preparing for School This Summer

Télécharger: 5 conseil santé mentale d’experts pour aider les enfants à se prépare pour l’école cet été

1. Start now

For many kids, it’s normal that schedules and routines change over the summer. Add to that, students across Ontario have not had consistency in their school days for most of the year. One thing you can start doing now is to ease into a more regular routine and start making your home environment more predictable. Consider gradually shifting bedtimes and wakeup times, reducing screen time, and ensuring mealtimes are happening at predictable times. All these things can help bring important routines back into your home. Going back to school will be a big change for many families who have been living (and doing school and work) so closely together at home. It’s a good idea to start talking about the challenges that may arise from being apart from other family members, friends or others that your child may be used to spending so much time with while home.

While none of us wants to rush the end of summer, it can be helpful to start having open conversations with your kids this summer about heading back to school. You could ask questions about what they might need to be successful at school this year or ask about any fears or concerns they might have about returning to the classroom. Brainstorming ways to work together as family could help your kids to feel safe and successful in their return to class. Some kids may also benefit from being able to visit the school through the summer. For younger kids, even regular visits to the school playground could help.

3. Brush up on social skills

It’s been a challenging year for kids, especially when it comes to socializing with peers. If your child or teen has been particularly isolated, try to look for ways to incorporate socialization into your summer activities and talk with them about creating a plan together. You could ask them about ways they feel comfortable connecting with friends.  A question like “I know socializing is easier when you’re at school, but what are some ways you might like to connect with your friends through the summer?” can be a good way to start the conversation.

Not every kid has the opportunity to attend summer camps and socialize there. Encouraging regular visits to playgrounds, splashpads, or other places where kids are connecting safely such as BMX parks, basketball courts, etc, can be a great way to help them start navigating relationships with peers. It gives them a chance to practise some of the social skills they’ll need once they’re back in the classroom.

4. Address your child’s concerns about COVID-19

When it comes to returning to in-person learning, your child or teen might have anxiety, worries, or fears linked to COVID-19. Some kids will be experiencing school COVID-19 protocols for the first time, while others may have ongoing concerns about the virus. Summer is a good time to begin practicing things like mask wearing and handwashing.

It can be helpful to understand the policies and procedures your child’s school has in place to help keep everyone safe – and share that information with them. We may not have all of the answers right now, but it’s ok to tell our kids when we don’t know. If your child or teen is having anxiety about wearing a mask, you can start practicing those skills now to eliminate some of the discomfort and hesitancy.

Kids in your family over the age of 12 and all adults who live with and care for your children should be encouraged to be vaccinated. Vaccines are the best way to reduce the risk of COVID-19. KidsHealthFirst.ca is a great resource for both youth and parents and caregivers, sharing trusted, factual information about the role vaccination plays in helping us and our families get back to doing the things we love, including a more regular school year.

Look out for signs that may indicate a bigger issue. For example, when your child is around other people or kids, are they hesitant or overly cautious? Ask them about it – how are they feeling about their experience? This is also a good opportunity to talk about your family’s needs and expectations when it comes to managing COVID-19 – every family has unique needs and experiences. For example, you might consider setting rules in place regarding inviting friends’ home from school. Kids might fall into old routines, so it’s important to be clear about any new expectation. Read more about mental health and pandemic preparedness.

5. Check-in with yourself

As parents and caregivers, it’s also important that we check-in with ourselves! Are there fears we have about our child returning to school?  Checking-in with ourselves and our own mental health will help us to be more aware of what we might be unknowingly projecting on to our kids. Read more tips about supporting parents and caregivers as our kids head back to school.

We don’t need to wait for September to start getting ready for school! All of these things can be done over the summer as a way to practice. It’s also a great time to start tapping into your child’s thoughts and concerns. If you’re already having these type of conversations and interactions now, then as you get closer to the start of the school year, you may be aware of some of the challenges and are already working on supporting your kids and setting them up for a successful school year.