Parenting

How to…prepare your child for school

Kids will soon be returning to school, but this year they face even more challenges to mental and emotional health than ever. Best-selling author, TEDx speaker and Psychotherapist Jodi Aman, LCSW, has a few tips to help out parents and their kids prepare…

1. Feel comfortable with your decision to send them back or homeschool.

Remind yourself that you are empowered rather than disempowered. Especially with kids going back to school with COVID still rampant in many parts of our country, we deeply feel the "no choice" conundrum. But within every action you take you do have a choice.

2. Get your kids used to and comfortable with masks by wearing them frequently.

Let them build up to many hours a day so they get used to it. Have them do different activities with a mask so it becomes second nature. Don't spend energy hating the mask, this exhausts you and can make you kids feel anxious and troubled.

3. Role-play setting limits.

This situation may increase times when other children aren't respecting your child's space. Some kids are not kinesthetically aware and may need to be reminded frequently to physically distance. Help your kids find the words to ask for space when they are in these situations.

Practise doing this until they feel more comfortable.

4. Give them tips on what to do if they are bullied.

One consequence of people feeling out of control is that they bully others to try to get a sense of control back. Just like every other year, make sure you speak to your kids about what to do if and when they are bullied.

5. Practise no face-touching.

Try to come up with fun ways to learn not to touch one's face. The masks may help with this, but there may be times when physical distancing is possible and they may take masks off, like during lunch, before washing their hands and not having ever had to have this awareness, they may need to practise this.

IMPROVE YOUR FAMILY LIFE

Looking for ways to improve your family life? ‘Meee in a family minute; 60 ways to improve your family life in 60 seconds’ could be the answer! Part of the ‘Meee in a minute’ books from Sid Madge of Meee, which also features ’60 Ways To Improve Your Life’ and ’60 Ways To Improve Your Working Life’, the book offers useful tips and strategies to appreciate, engage with, enjoy, connect and reconnect with your family. The Meee in a Minute books are available from Amazon, www.meeebooks.com and all good bookstores.

We’ve bagged a copy to give one away to a lucky reader. All you have to do is send us your family tip (it could be how to sneak veggies into your kids’ meals or a great activity to do as a family) and email to us at hello@lifeinmagazines.co.uk (or text us on 07403-550068).

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