Anticipating “Back-to-School” can be bittersweet. This is a time when students often experience a mix of emotions, as summer comes to an end, making the way for a new school year, with new opportunities and new challenges. For many, its the chance to begin a new chapter.

Back-to-School in 2020 may present a new set of challenges for students and parents due to COVID-19. Parents, caregivers, students and families may face additional stress and experience unique emotions and challenges at the thought of going back to school during a Pandemic. Yorktown Family Services can help during this time of uncertainty.

In this blog, we will discuss ideas, strategies, and coping skills. We will provide information, support and mental health resources to parents and students and address common concerns and thoughts.

Elementary

Elementary school aged children may need extra support and encouragement from parents and care-givers. The following list of coping strategies provide excellent examples of ways in which parents and caregivers can support and encourage their children as they transition back to school.

• Verbalize your emotions: Asking your child to identify how they’re feeling (“I’m mad” or “I’m scared”) can really help “take the sting out of uncomfortable emotions”. Children can learn to identify feelings by using the “feeling faces posters”.
• Breathing exercises: Practicing various breathing techniques to help kids relax their minds and their bodies. Take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale slowly through the mouth.
• Exercise: An easy way to lift a child’s mood is to perform physical activity. Bring your child out for a walk to the local playground so that they can “get out their excess energy” and just have some fun, while practicing social distancing.
• Create artwork: Some children may paint, color, sculpt, or draw which are great outlets for emotions. Artwork or Art Therapy is an excellent way to cope with any negative emotions a child may be facing.
• Ask for help: It is important for children to know that it is ok to ask for help with any challenge they may be experiencing, i.e. with homework or peer related. Encourage your child to ask for help when they are struggling. Have a conversation about who they can go to for help at school.
• Provide praise: When you see your child solving problems on their own, praise them. Positive reinforcement will encourage them to continue the behaviour that they receive praise for.
• Determine which strategies are best: Review the various strategies with your child and identify which ones work best. For example, perhaps your child is more comfortable expressing their emotions through artwork rather than verbalizing how they are feeling.

Secondary School/High School

The majority of concerns identified by Clients, aged 14-18, who received services through Yorktown’s What’s Up Walk-in (pre COVID) and Immediate Virtual Counselling Services by telephone (during COIVD) were for support on coping with emotions (emotional regulation), depression, and anxiety.

Below are some insights and coping strategies for youth feeling anxious about the upcoming school year.

• Speak to someone: It is very common to be anxious for your first day of school, especially given the uncertainties that a pandemic brings. Speak to someone you trust and feel comfortable with such as a parent, sibling, friend, teacher or school support staff, or contact Yorktown Family Services.
• Partake in activities you enjoy: Doing something you enjoy will help lower stress and promote a positive mindset. Examples include: Going for a walk, listening to music, drawing, exercising, or Facetiming your friends.
• Eating healthy: Ensuring that you have healthy and nutritious meals is important. Being balanced physically and mentally can help you cope with stress and anxiety.
• Adopt safe coping behaviors: If you know someone who has great coping skills, try using those strategies yourself.
• Self-awareness: Identify what is making you angry, anxious or depressed and determine and reflect on why you are feeling that way. Recognizing that you are upset, anxious or depressed is the first step to help you better understand yourself and manage your emotions.
• Self-control: Think before you speak or act. Think about the different ways you can handle a situation and consider the best option. Specifically, consider the “consequences” for each option.
• Make your decision: Pick the option you think is most effective to solve this particular issue. After you’ve made your decision, think about how it went. Was this really the best option? Did things work out the way you hoped it would? If not, go back to the beginning and see why. In addition, see if there is a better option.
• Consider ways to calm down: Figure out a safe way to calm down. Some ideas include drawing, doodling, meditating, talking to a friend or someone you can trust about your feelings, distracting yourself and going for a walk.

College/University

As part of their efforts to help fight COVID-19, many Ontario Universities plan to offer online courses as part of their COVID-19 management plan.  Remote learning may be challenging for many students. First year college and university students may feel especially disappointed, as many likely envisioned their first university and college semester turning out quite differently. Students may also miss the experience of campus lectures or worry that they may not succeed in this new online learning environment.

Listed below are some tips and strategies to help make remote and online learning more manageable for students:

• Establish a routine: Get into the habit of waking up at the same time everyday, so that you can tell yourself: “It is time to get some work done”.
• Have a dedicated study area: Establish clear boundaries, with a separate and quiet work/study area containing all of your supplies to help you stay focused and productive at home. Try to limit this space to studying and working.
• Create a study plan: Set goals for yourself, both short term and long term, so that you stay
• Don’t neglect social time: Set breaks to catch up with friends, to move around, or even do household chores.
• Treat each class as if you were physically in the room: Personalize your learning environment and turn it into your very own classroom. You can sit in a comfortable area with a notebook in hand and make sure to do any assigned readings before class.
• Avoid distractions: It is incredibly easy to be tempted to pick up your phone in the middle of class. Put your phone on silent, close any social media apps/tabs, and turn off notifications for the class’ duration.
• Keep in touch with teachers and professors: Contact instructors during online office hours if you have any questions about readings or if you have any concerns about the lecture materials.
• Coordinate group chats: Having these group chats with classmates is the best way for peer-to-peer help. In addition, it is a great way to catch up with friends you have not seen in a very long time.

All Ages

With many schools, colleges and universities reopening in September, it is important that as a community, we contribute by each making efforts in preventing and stopping COVID-19. This includes getting accurate and up to date information about COVID-19, practicing healthy hygiene and following the guidelines and tips outlined by Toronto Public Health.

You can learn about COVID-19, get prevention tips and more by visiting the Public Health Agency of Canada at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html

If you, your child, or someone you know is anxious about starting school, call Yorktown at 416-669-3521 to get connected with a counselor by telephone or online. We are here to help!