For some the return to school may be a busy and exciting time, for others it may cause some anxiety and worry. We have developed these Back to School Tips to support families with some ideas to help support wellbeing.
Your child: Notice when is a good time and make space for your child to talk about things. This may be walking the dog, in the car or at bedtime. Create opportunities for your child to build a relationship with another family member, trusted adult or professional.
Be available to actively listen to what your child is thinking or how they are feeling. Name what you think they are feeling, let them know you understand and try not to jump in too soon with a solution. For example. “It sounds like you’re worried about having no one to play with, I can see why that’s upsetting you.”
After the school day, your child may need time to wind down before telling you about their day. You could try sharing something about your day first.
You: Think about who you can talk to about any concerns or worries you have, such as a friend, family member or maybe a professional.
Our brains are wired to notice threats, sometimes that stops us seeing the good stuff. That can mean we have to really try to be positive.
Your child: Help your child identify the positive things about lockdown easing or returning to school. Who might they be looking forward to seeing or what might they be looking forward to doing?
You: Consider the positives for you of lockdown easing and children returning to school.
Together: It can be helpful to make time each day to think of one or two positive things. It may be nice to write these down in diary or post them in a jar, share them with your child and listen to their ideas. You could have a phrase like “Today I loved…. playing football with you”
For more information about going Back to School and supporting your own and your child’s wellbeing visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/backtoschool
Currie Primary School 
You must be logged in to post a comment.