91�ȱ�

When children made the big return to schools across the UK, most reports suggested they were excited and happy to be back in class. But that wasn't the case for all - some struggled with anxiety at being back in the school environment.

Now, after the summer break and with a new school year approaching, here are some of the reasons why children may be struggling, along with some suggestions for how you can help your child if they are:

Reason 1: They loved being at home

Who can blame them? Whilst many young people were in school throughout and some others didn't have ideal working conditions at home, plenty enjoyed the freedom that being away from the school structure gave when homeschooling. They could wear comfy PJs or trackies, grab a snack when they were peckish, sleep in late, sneak a few games on their phone during French, snuggle up in bed when they were cold – what’s not to love? Going back to the stricter routine of uniform, restricted eating patterns and formality of lessons was tough for many after so long. The same now applies after a long summer holiday.

Reassure them that they'll soon settle into the new (old) routine. Help them by encouraging them to organise clothes, school bags, lunch boxes etc the night before to avoid a stressful rush in the morning. Focus on the positives of being back (for example - friends to eat lunch with, or kick a ball round with at break.) and the negatives of being at home (for instance - too much screen time or boredom).

Reason 2: They found it easier to work at home

Much as many educators like to think children need to be in school, the uncomfortable truth is that some children actually thrived whilst schooling online.

Quieter children, for example, might have worked better without the distraction of their louder classmates. Shy children may have preferred to ask questions in the online chat rather than putting their hand up in front of everyone in the real classroom. Some children found it easier to concentrate as their home ‘classroom’ was quieter than the school one, with less going on. Some young people may have found working at their own pace easier at home than at school - an environment which can feel more competitive. In addition, many children might be happier not having to constantly think about how they appear to teachers or friends during the school day.

If these are reasons for your child’s school-reluctance, it is probably best to speak to their teacher about how to take some of the home-school benefits back to the classroom. Maybe some kind of virtual chat format can still be used, or your child can be moved to a quieter spot in the classroom. Explore the options with your child and their school.

Reason 3: They are anxious about COVID

School may have returned but let’s not pretend it's totally 'back to normal'. Pupils are expected to wear masks and have COVID tests a few times a week – both of which can cause discomfort in anyone, never mind young people. Then there's the anxiety around COVID, especially if they have someone vulnerable at home and have taken care to minimise non-household contact for much of the last year.

Address this by discussing their fears and explaining why it's deemed safe to go back. Talk about vaccinations and reduced risk – and point out that nothing is risk free in life, even before Coronavirus.

Reason 4: They're being bullied

For some, being away from their peers during lockdown was actually a blessing. Of course bullying can happen outside the school gates, and cyber-bullying is a particular problem. But for children being bullied at or outside school, going back means facing their tormentors in the flesh once more.

If your child is facing unkind comments, being ganged up on, ignored, left out, teased or is being sent horrible messages, letting the school know is essential. Being bullied can have a severe impact on their wellbeing and should never be ignored in the hope that things will sort themselves out. Show your child that you believe them and support them, and try to work with the school towards solutions, rather than taking matters into your own hands. For more advice on dealing with bullying, this 91�ȱ� advice page highlights organisations that can help.

There are other reasons for school-reluctance of course, such as mental health problems (e.g. social anxiety or depression). The point is to try to find out the root cause, which will be different for each child.

The main take-home, however, is that your reluctant child is not alone. There are many children and adults, not least teachers, feeling the same way.

By Dr Sandi Mann - Senior Psychology Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire.

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