Anecdotes about the return to face-to-face classes and how parents and teachers can help in that transition

Always and for several generations, children have faced that dreaded first day of school with natural nerves and expectation that this new step in their lives entails. But going to classrooms in person feels very different for some after quarantine derived from the COVID-19 pandemic. In certain children, triggered separation anxietyIn addition to fear for leave your place safe from the pandemic.

As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the pandemic increased the fear and concern of many families about their finances, or did they have to endure mourning for the loss of one of its members, which made parenting more stressful. Besides, the same isolation established a home routine in the minors to which the little ones tried to cling.

This 2022 was, for example, the first time Rodrigo, 4 years old, went to a school, either face-to-face or virtually. Virtuality never caught his attention; parents failed to keep him sitting at the computer so he had only received occasional leveling with a teacher at home, and it had felt good going once a week to a class with other children in a church. With that, the parents were confident that he would do well..

And yes, Rodrigo He was happy to buy his supplies and his uniformand told family, friends and neighbors that he was about to enter the school. The first day he returned happy, greeting as if he had returned from his graduation. The surprise for him was when, the next day, they woke him up early to put his uniform back on. “Again?”he asked, no longer smiling. The next day she complained that the shoes made her feet hurt and she couldn’t go. On the first day of school she had laughed because some children were crying at the school gate. In the following days, he had to cry when he realized that he would spend there five days a week and that his extreme freedom had ended.. At the moment she has tried to negotiate with her parents, asking them if she can only stay with the “Sunday school”.

Emiliano, 5 years old, discovered with great surprise that school is not always “by computer”. “I like school, because I am with my mother at home, and when she turns off the computer I can play or watch television,” she commented for this newspaper. “But my mom says that’s not the real school, that the school is somewhere else and that I should go. I don’t want to go, because it scares me. But I already started classes and I like the new school a lot, ”she said.

Once he was past his astonishment, Emiliano discovered other ingredients of the face-to-face school that he found very attractive. “Have swings, slide and a pool. There are many children to play. And, when I go home, I want it to be night quickly so I can go to school again.”

In the case of Giselle, 3 years oldaccustomed to always wearing dresses, her resistance was in front of the physical education uniform. The combination in pants and a sports blouse puzzled her and, worse still, I didn’t understand why did i have to use it several times a week. “Put me my little dress, mommy!” She cried out to no avail.

Mutual support for the transition

The return to school in person was a challenge for all involved: parents, students and teachers. For this reason, working together to recover that learning environment and build a new routine that benefits everyone and build trust it’s key.

Some suggestions to put into practice:

The family could keep cool when dropping him off at school, using a calm voice, with relaxed faces and expressions to let his son know that they would not leave it if the child was not safe and protected.

If the children have questions that you cannot answer, You can say, “That’s a very good question. I’m not sure, but I can find the answer”, and proceed to make a list with their fears or doubts. Children appreciate knowing what their parents are doing to handle the situation. and also what they can do. Working together to answer those questions can help you stay calm..

Remember that this is a phase: building new relationships is a skill, and with support, children can be resilient. Even if it is difficult to part, they will get a new relationship of trust with their new teacher and they will feel more secure.

teachers must anticipate behavioral changes in children and remember that behavior always wants to communicate a message. In addition, the children They may show a wide range of feelings throughout the day and it is important to identify and validate them..

Offer flexible seating: can be challenging for young children spend a lot of time in an assigned place. Flexible seats let them choose what is most comfortable for them and contribute greatly to the classroom feels more welcoming.

All those School projects and activities that you have done in the past are not going to happen the same way this year, no matter how hard I try as a teacher. It is important lower their expectations a bit and focus on accompanying them in their learning.