Monthly Tip: Flexibility in the Age of COVID-19

Monthly Tip

September 2021

Flexibility in the Age of COVID-19

This past year and a half has been unique, to say the least. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered our daily lives, and with a new school year already underway, it can be distressing to manage the constant unknowns. Will schools remain open all year? Will students be safe? Will children readjust to a normal school day or be prepared to adjust to a shift to virtual learning? Attempting to answer these questions can increase anxiety and diminish students’ enjoyment of school. However, one of the key things to help students of all ages navigate these uncertainties is flexibility.

Flexibility: Easier Said Than Done?

Being flexible enough to manage the new school year may sound idealistic. Many students might feel too burned out or anxious to manage unexpected changes, and many parents might feel overwhelmed with dealing with the uncertainties in their own professional and personal lives. However, with the proper planning, navigating potential changes can be realistic for everyone involved.

Reflect. Reflection is a powerful tool, and it is an important first step in learning to be flexible. Ask your children to reflect on several key points from the last year and a half, including when their schools initially transitioned to virtual learning in 2019-2020, when the 2020-2021 school year began, if/when they began hybrid learning, and how these first few weeks of the new school year have gone. By discussing their successes and challenges during these times, your children can identify the elements that they struggled with and plan for them in advance.
Role-play. After your children reflect on the past year and a half, roleplaying how to manage challenging situations will be important to helping them feel more in control. For example, if your children struggled to advocate for themselves during virtual learning, have them practice asking you for help in a variety of academic situations. By rehearsing what to say ahead of time, students can feel more confident when approaching their teachers in a virtual or in person setting.
Routines. Whether schools are open or switch to virtual learning, implementing daily routines is an important way to help students manage uncertain situations. From waking up at the same time every day to creating an after-school homework plan, routines remove some uncertainties due to their repetitive nature. As students adjust to the new school year, have your children create a routine; if they are younger, incorporate pictures into a list to help them remember the tasks that they need to complete. This routine should include specific times for students to attend to certain activities, such as completing homework or taking a snack break, so that they have as much structure in their day as possible.

Maintaining direct, open lines of communication with your children is a difficult but crucial part of helping them be flexible. Discussing their concerns and triumphs can enable them to think through the potential challenges of a situation and identify solutions ahead of time.

Discuss potential scenarios and your children’s emotions. There are a lot of unknowns going into the school year, so it is important to share with your children that situations may change rapidly. Explain to them the reasons why a school-related situation might change and ask your children how they feel about these hypothetical scenarios. Encouraging them to be honest about their feelings can enable you to better figure out how to best help them. For example, if your children feel anxious about catching COVID-19, you can take steps to mitigate those feelings ahead of time by helping them pack extra masks and hand sanitizers in their backpack.
Share your own experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic did not just radically alter the lives of schoolchildren; it drastically changed the lives of everyone. Whether you faced new difficulties at work, at home, or in your personal life, sharing those experiences with your children can help them feel less isolated and awkward about potential negative feelings that they may experience. By sharing the challenges that you encountered and those that you anticipate occurring this year, your children can look to you as a role model for how to manage unexpected situations.
Meet with a professional. Sometimes, children need assistance from external support systems. The uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic left many students feeling anxious, confused, and isolated, and as parents, this may be something we ourselves are uncertain about how to best manage. Whether your children work with a therapist, counselor, or an Educational Mentor, it is important to recognize and acknowledge if/when your children require that additional help.

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