There’s always some mixed feelings at the start of a new school year, but this year will certainly have more. In just a few short weeks, kids from all over the country will be transitioning from remote learning back into the classroom. Whether your child is excited or not, one thing is for certain – there will be a whole new set of challenges related to students’ social and emotional well-being and mental health.
As a parent who might already be struggling, returning to school may have you feeling overwhelmed. Luckily, you don’t have to do this alone. Parent coaching is available through Bridge The Gap, helping families with communication, healthy boundaries, family relationships and more.
Back to the Classroom Challenges for Parents and Students
As more people get vaccinated and cases of COVID-19 decrease, we’re slowly returning to a sense of normalcy. While some children were able to return to in-person learning last year, many did not. But with the 2021-22 school year coming up, it appears that most schools plan on operating normally.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that things will revert back to the way they were pre-COVID. There are many challenges that parents and students will face this year:
Social distancing
Many school districts are encouraging social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, social distancing isn’t possible in all classrooms due to the number of students. And even for those that are able to maintain distance, it’s not a perfect solution. Many students are restless or too young to understand what boundaries mean.
Wearing masks
Masks were required in many school districts last year, but this year, things are different. Some schools are leaving masks up to the individual student. However, there is concern over the spread of COVID-19 if students aren’t wearing masks, and some older kids are worried about being bullied if they do wear their masks.
COVID-19 transmission
Some students are scared to return to school because of the potential spread of COVID-19. Research shows that COVID-19 transmission in schools is associated with community transmissions. To say that many parents and students aren’t worried would be an understatement.
Not to mention, there are many students that can’t be vaccinated right now, leaving them vulnerable to the virus. For children that already struggle with anxiety, returning to school can trigger a wide range of emotions they may not know how to process.
Gaps in learning
Another issue that many students are facing is a learning gap. Millions of students fell behind last year, particularly low-income and minority children who are less likely to have the technology and home environments for independent study.
Returning to the classroom has challenges of its own, but many parents are worried about how they’re going to catch their children up to meet their academic benchmarks. Some experts predict that we may even need a disaster plan for education. Teachers can’t possibly catch up all students while teaching new material. They need help from families and communities, too.
How Parent Coaching Can Help Your Child Make the Transition to In-Person Learning this Fall
Bridge The Gap offers parent coaching services designed to help families flourish as a unit. We are able to help parents address their challenges, understand the family system and support children with mental health afflictions. If you know that your child is behind in school, has ADHD or has social anxieties, we can help your family make the transition.
Additionally, we work closely with parents to establish boundaries and set healthy goals, as well as hold students accountable for their self-work and academic progress. This support is critical for many families – asking for help is nothing to feel embarrassed about! Making this decision allows your child to flourish with the gifts and talents they have.
To learn more about our parent coaching services, contact Bridge The Gap today at 805-558-4599.
