Virtual Schooling : Tips To Ease Back To School Anxiety

If you are a parent or caregiver of a school-age child, chances are you are a bit overwhelmed about the start of one of the most unusual school years on record due to COVID19. Distance learning has left most parents, caregivers extremely anxious about how students will navigate the rigors and stress of the school year.

As a family, we chose 100% remote learning for my 9 year old. We did about 2.5 months of remote back in spring and just finished 2 full weeks of Fall semester. We all need lots of duas to get through this difficult and stressful times. As a working mother, here’s some stress reducing tips that’s has been keeping me sane so I don’t stay up till 3am to finish my work. Hope they help your family to ease back to school anxiety.

Re-frame the Situation and Practice Attitude of Gratitude

Stressful situations are often beyond our control. We create anxiety and worry when we try to control what we can’t. Focusing on what can be controlled, on the other hand, can decrease feelings of anxiety. So how about re-frame the situation and count the many blessings you still have in your life. Technology to connect with friends and family, fresher air, more time to spend with the family and renew your relationships and so much more.

Maintain A Routine

Keep your regular back to school schedule even with remote learning. Bedtime between 8:00pm – 8:30pm. This means, you’ll have at least 2-3 hours of solid me time or work time or connecting with your spouse time at night. With no morning traffic rush, or drop offs, let the kids sleep in extra 20-30 minutes than usual school years and sneak in some work before they wake up. Win-win for both of you.

Equip Your Child To Be Successful

Resilient parents raise resilient children. How you model resilience and the ability to manage the situation that we’re all in right now has a big impact on how your children is going to do with it as well. Be empathetic, patience and set the tone. Help them become more acclimated to new routines by talking through what they might expect. Allow them to ask questions and answer them honestly. Also, believe after the first couple of weeks, the kids will get the hang of it and will not need you as much of you as you think for their distance learning.

Don’t sit with your child the whole time they are doing school work. You don’t do that when they are in school so why would you do that now? It may be difficult for younger kids in kindergarten to first or even second grade, but equip them to be independent when they can.

Each virtual learning system has a way to communicate with the teacher through chat, email or voice message. Empower your children and teach them how to contact her teacher through the virtual school system that they use. This way, you don’t have to email the teacher 5 times a day and relay the message back and forth. Teach them how to login to zoom for a week or so, and let them take leads in their new learning process.

Prep Meals Ahead

Prepare breakfast and lunch how you usually do it during school year. For us, that means lots of prep during the weekend. Just because I’m working from home, doesn’t mean I need to whip up a gourmet lunch everyday. I’ve trained my daughter to take out lunch from the refrigerator and warm in the microwave or in the air fryer. If you have the time, by all means, spend lunchtime together. If not, box up lunch the night before so it’s an easy warm and serve meal.

Improve Your Sleep Habit

Rest is crucial to both physical and mental wellness. A full night’s sleep is not only important for your kids, but it’s essential for you too. Unplug and make sure you are getting enough sleep that your body requires.

Experience nature

Whether it is by starting a herb garden indoor, or planting some flowers in the garden or taking a 15 minute walk outdoors, try to get closer to the nature. We have been exploring local parks, lakes and going on family picnics, hikes more often than ever. We’ve also tried secluded camping and it’s been an adventure for the kiddo. Our brain relaxes more when we are closer to nature, so if you don’t have access to nature, still get out and walk around the block.

Double down on physical self care

Anxiety affects your physical body. Find an activity that you enjoy. Exercise help you increase mental wellness and happiness naturally. Just 20 minutes of exercise everyday can boost happiness for up to 12 hours afterwards because endorphins are released when you exercise which makes a person feel good.

I really wish that our kids get their normal life back soon but it may not happen as soon as we like. Praying for a productive school year and good health for all the kids. Also, praying that no mother lose their sanity and are able to partner up with the educators to ease anxiety as we embrace this new norm of schooling.

P.S. Looking for tips to raise content kids? Read this.

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