Hello everyone,

As many of you are aware schools will be reopening to students on a voluntary and part-time basis on June 1st. With the announcement comes many questions about what this might look like.  This potential change has also probably brought a variety of different feelings to both children and parents. Feelings like anxiety, sadness, fear and excitement are natural and normal. I am including here some thoughts you might find helpful as you navigate these changes.

Start by checking in with yourself…

Bring awareness to your own worries and fears.

Change your own unhelpful thoughts to more helpful thoughts so that you can feel more confident about everything going well.

Our kids pick up on our energy so we need to calm ourselves first and foremost.

Feelings First

…and remember “Feelings First, Logics Last”.  We want to listen to their feelings and validate them, not fix them.

Just listen and validate…  “It sounds as though you’re feeling ______, _______ and _______.  Can you tell me more about each of these feelings…”

Continue to let them know that their feelings are valid and you can understand that they’re feeling this way.

Logics Last

When they’re ready, remind them that it helps to look at the “evidence” so our negative thoughts don’t get carried away on us.

Go over the safety measures that are being put in place.

Go over the changes that will be very different. Schools can help in this regard and will be sending things that might be helpful.

(As parents can we expect some sadness too, especially once our kids go to school and realize how much has changed and how many restrictions are still necessary.)

*adapted from a presentation by Sharon Selby

Social Stories

Stories can be very powerful tools to help children process and understand feelings. I am attaching a social story Returning-To-School-During-COVID-19 written by a colleague in the district that might be of some use to parents who will be  helping their children return to school this June. Change is difficult but reading stories can be great starting places for helpful conversations.