Parents urged to prepare students for back-to-school anxiety

Things will look different when St. Vrain Valley School District students step into the classroom next week for the first time since March. Everyone will be wearing masks, there will be arrows on the hallway floors, desks too far apart to steal a glance at someone else's answers. And there will be plenty of new rules and protocols to follow.

The first day of school is a mix of excitement and anxiety in normal times. That's ramped up during the pandemic, leading experts at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to encourage families to address the issue head on.

"Parents naturally want to protect their children from as much stress, anxiety, and fear as possible," said Lynn Garst, Pediatric Disaster Coordinator, CDPHE. "However, children can become even more anxious when they are kept in the dark."

District executive director of Student Services Johnny Terrell encourages open communication between parents and students, but also with the school.

Terrell said at last week's special board meeting that there are programs and curriculum available to address the mental and emotional wellbeing of students, "The mental health aspect is really important. Schools are communities and they fill a void. We intend to fill that void with counselors, interventionists and community partners."

Here are CDPHE's recommendations for reducing anxiety as in-person school begins:

1. Prior to starting the conversation, assess personal concerns and anxieties and be prepared to share those with the child.

2. Let the child know what to expect with the start of school, as well as the rest of the year.

3. Talk about what the family and the school are doing to keep everyone safe.

4. Ask what questions the child has.

**It is OK to not know the answer. This is a great opportunity to work together to find out.

5. Ask the child what concerns they have.

6. Acknowledge fears and concerns.

**Let the child know that these feelings are OK. Many kids are feeling that way right now.

7. Assure the child that the family will get through this together.

8. Ask what would help the child feel better.

9. Try to instill a sense that the child "can do" things to protect themselves.

**While things can't go back to normal right now, families can work together to make things better.

10. Give the child choices where choices are possible.

**Choices help overcome a sense of helplessness.

**Limit the choices to two options for younger children and up to three options for older children.

11. Mask wearing can be difficult and stressful for many children. Go over the right way to wear a mask -- covering both the mouth and the nose.

**If possible, let the child choose from several types of masks to find the one that fits most comfortably.

**Here is a resource for helping the child wear a mask.

12. Work together to develop a daily schedule and routine for both school and non-school times.

**Stick to it as much as possible.

**Knowing what comes next can comfort children of all ages.

13. Try to create a workspace that is specifically dedicated to schoolwork.

**It is just as important for children to leave school behind as it is for adults to leave work behind at the end of the

day. This is much more difficult when school and home are in the same place. Creating a special workspace can help

separate school from the rest of the day.

**If one cannot create a separate workspace, store schoolwork in a separate location at the end of each school day.

14. If school is online for at least part of the school week, have the child design a workspace that is comfortable with

limited distractions.

**Allow the child to include a comfort item such as a favorite stuffed animal for younger children.

A mix of in-person and synchronized remote learning starts Oct. 5. But there will be more than core subjects being taught. The pandemic is forcing children and parents to face uncertainty and learn coping skills that may serve them long after graduation.