4 Tips for Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health Going Back to School
Is your kid going back to school soon? If that's a yes, you’re probably doing a lot of things right now, like maybe helping them set routines.
And that’s great! Especially when coupled with supporting your child’s mental health. So here are four tips you may want to apply.
Check-in with your child
If your child is re-adjusting to in-person school, they'll probably need all your support. So ask them how they feel, and try to keep your questions open-ended so there is more room for conversation. You can do this by asking:
“How are you feeling about going back to school?” instead of “Are you excited to be going back?”
“What are you looking forward to doing at school?” instead of “I bet you’re excited about reading time at school!”
“What made you laugh today?” or “What was your favorite thing about school today?” instead of “Did you have fun at school today?”
And if they need help in expressing themselves, you can guide them using emotion wheels so it’s easier for them to identify their feelings. There are also age-appropriate emotion wheels available for younger children.
So encourage your kid to open up to you, and if they do, listen to them and validate their feelings. Some things they share may not seem like a huge deal to you, but it probably means a lot to your child. So be empathetic to their experiences and reassure them if necessary.
Give them hugs, encouragement, and quality time
Sometimes a good hug is all it takes to help your child feel supported and safe. Let them know they are loved, and empower them to be curious and explore new things; one of which may be in-person school.
Remind your child about their strengths—things they are good at—and celebrate small wins together.
Did your child dress themselves up this morning? Or maybe they were nervous about meeting their friends again but approached them and had a great time? These call for celebration, no matter how small!
Bond over activities and conversations, do something fun together!
Practice relaxation and breathing techniques
Breathing exercises and relaxation techniques may also help your child feel more calm and relaxed. You can try practicing these exercises with your child so they can use them when needed.
Understanding these exercises and developing the habit of using them in such situations may help them feel more at ease.
Take care of yourself
If you take care of your own mental health, you can support your child a lot better. So take time out for yourself if you need to.
You may want to practice mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and talk about your emotions too. Show your child what you would like them to do by adapting those practices yourself. This way you can also subtly teach your child to care for their own mental health.
When you take care of yourself, your child learns that from you. So be kind to yourself and try to be there for your kid when they need you. Getting used to school again may take some time, so let your child know that this is completely okay.
Children are resilient and adaptable when given the right kind of support. And your support may be all they need for this transition.
