Children return to school Mon 8th April

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Message from the school nurses

Dear parents with school aged children,

You might be inclined to create a minute by minute schedule for your kids.  You have high hopes of hours of learning, including online activities, science experiments, and book reports.  You’ll limit technology until everything is done!  But here’s the thing…

Our kids are just as scared as we are right now.  Our kids not only can hear everything that is going on around them, but they feel our constant tension and anxiety.  They have never experienced anything like this before. Although the idea of being off of school for 4 weeks sounds awesome, they are probably picturing a fun time like summer break, not the reality of being trapped at home and not seeing their friends.

Over the coming weeks, you will see an increase in behaviour issues with your kids. Whether it’s anxiety, or anger, or protest that they can’t do things normally – it will happen.  You’ll see more meltdowns, tantrums, and oppositional behaviour in the coming weeks.  This is normal and expected under these circumstances.

What kids need right now is to feel comforted and loved.  To feel like it’s all going to be ok.  And that might mean that you tear up your perfect schedule and love on your kids a bit more.  Play outside and go on walks.  Bake cookies and paint pictures.  Play board games and watch movies.  Do a science experiment together or find virtual field trips of the zoo.  Start a book and read together as a family.  Snuggle under warm blankets and do nothing.

Don’t worry about them regressing in school. Every single kid is in this boat and they all will be ok.  When we are back in the classroom, we will all course correct and meet them where they are.  Teachers are experts at this!  Don’t pick fights with your kids because they don’t want to do math.  Don’t scream at your kids for not following the schedule.  Don’t mandate 2 hours of learning time if they are resisting it.

If I can leave you with one thing, it’s this: at the end of all of this, your kids’ mental health will be more important than their academic skills.  And how they felt during this time will stay with them long after the memory of what they did during those 4 weeks is long gone.  So keep that in mind, every single day.

Stay safe. X

6 responses to “Message from the school nurses”

  1. Mya F.

    My mummy said that is the best.
    we are makeing lots of new memories we have done lots of colouring, painting and clay hand prints it been really good. stay safe to everyone at broad heath, children and my teachers and my friends all around the world.

  2. Elena B.

    For how much do we stay home? Because i was not in and i was not sure for how much we stay home.

    1. Mrs Raja-Khan

      Hello Elena
      I hope you are well. We do not know how long you will have to remain at home for yet. Keep checking the school website and the news for information.
      Keep safe!

  3. Anaya R.

    Good choices to make this hard time into a enjoyable memory.
    Thank you for being helpful.

  4. Zahra A.

    Excellent advice, thank you. My mummy would like to share this with her friends if that’s okay.

    1. Mrs Raja-Khan

      What a lovely idea! We are here to try and help each other.

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