Tips to Gear up Your Children To Return Back to School after Lockdown

In response to the deadly virus COVID-19, India is following lockdown that had started by the end of the month -March 2020.

Furthermore, due to the second wave in 2021 strict lockdown came into power play!

Now that the situation is under control, the Government of India has started to allow educators to open the schools after lockdown.

Of course –without failing to maintain “social distancing” and “sanitization” rule compulsorily.

From wondering how to maintain the continuity in education & cope with the setbacks imposed by COVID-19 to –

“How can we keep children safe once they get back to school after lockdown?”

“How can we maintain social distancing in classrooms?”

“How can we meet the socio-emotional needs of students?”

The “teaching-learning” equation has gone under a vast change and educators across the globe are brainstorming about the ways to manage educational quality after the reopening of schools after lockdown phase. They are consistently making efforts to plan & strategize a new educational roadmap for the students.

However, as a parent, I am sure; you are deep-down facing insecurities of how you’d send your kid back to school after lockdown in the upcoming days.

Tips to gear up your children to return back to school after COVID-19 lockdown

Read out the following tips to gear up your children to return back to school after lockdown…

#1: Talk About it to Your Kid

After attending hundreds of online teaching-learning sessions, your kids might have got used to the e-learning study techniques. On the other hand, they might be feeling confused & traumatized by the entire lockdown environment.

Those who are below 8 or 9 years old might don’t even understand what’s happening so far.

So, as a responsible parent, sit with them & try asking them questions like –

“Do you miss going to school?”

“Are you worried about anything?”

“Do you have questions regarding the situation all around?”

Don’t dismiss the concerns of the little mind, or tell them not to ask silly questions. Let them speak their heart out— and listen to what they have to say.

Just talking will make them feel confident about going back to school after lockdown.

#2: Make them Comfortable the New “Rulebook of Practicality”

As I mentioned, your kids are experiencing so many phases of educational changes for more than 5 months now. Earlier, when they were comfortable with the traditional teaching-learning process, we pushed them to the digital classrooms where they learned how to study online using quick school ERP solutions integrated with e-learning modules.

And now that situation is slightly in control, they again need to go back to the school after lockdown.

However, many schools have decided to deploy school management software to conduct in-house processes even in the future but the system is not yet transitioned to 100% online.

You need to explain the practical scenario to your kids.

Don’t let them make conclusions based on their “imaginary thinking”!

Tell them the truth as it is.

Help them understand the new “Rulebook of practicality”, make them aware of the virus impact to keep them safe as well as other kids in their classroom when they go back to school after lockdown.

Explain to them why maintaining “social distancing”, “using “masks” & “sanitizers” is crucial once the lockdown ends.

Help them with the basic hygiene protocols like - washing hands for 20 seconds, eating home-made lunch, drinking water from own water-bottles, avoid going in crowded areas of the school, following the school timetable & obey guidelines of teachers strictly.

Most importantly the student-to-faculty ratio in a classroom would be around 15:1.

So, help your child to be mentally prepared for the new classroom environment. Ask them to maintain at least 6 feet distance from other kids when they go back to school after lockdown.

#3: Go Slowly Initially

As your kids have become used to the “home-comfort-zone”, it might be tough for them initially to go back to the school after lockdown.

Having spent ample time with you and other family members, they may behave differently or seem moody while leaving home.

Therefore, keep a track of their daily activities right from the moment they travel to school & come back via a school mobile app with a real-time bus tracking system. You can even monitor the activity of the bus until your kid reaches school safely.

Also, ask the faculty members to send updates of their kids throughout the day as they attend classes.

It will give them warmth and a sense of safety.

They’d feel happier when they know their loved ones are there with them always. Slowly they’ll get comfortable with the school environment again.

#4: Focus on Well-Being of Children than Academic Grades

After a long gap, your children are rejoining the school after lockdown.

The possibility is they will take time to get into the serious academic mindset.

While the school would be taking care of regular assessments and exams, you must stay calm and composed if the overall grades decline.

Give them some time to settle themselves.

At this moment, more than anything, your kid’s well-being should be a priority!

#5: Ask Faculty to Conduct Feedback Sessions

Last but not least, as a parent, ask the faculty to conduct feedback sessions that would discuss whether the students are comfortable & resolve their issues.

Chances are - students will take time to adjust to the new classroom setup environment.

Feedback sessions regarding the classroom setup will help the children stay stress-free and enjoy their learning journey of school after lockdown.