Since the start of the pandemic, students have been performing the Hokey Cokey dance routine when it comes to physical schooling. They’ve been in and out and back in and then back out again. As a result some children will take the return to school in their stride, while others may need to take it one step at a time and that’s perfectly okay.
Australian International School Malaysia has put together a list of steps that could help your child to have a smooth journey on their path back to school.
Top tips for parents to help their child ease back into school
Are they excited about going back to school?
If they raise any concerns, take them seriously and if it’s not something you can help with contact the class teacher who will want to help.
Find out what the new rules at school are
Talk through with them any changes that may affect them so there are no surprises.
Be a positive role model
Children pick up on adult behaviour so if you’re positive about the return to school that will help them be positive too.Be prepared – make sure they have everything they need ahead of time. Don’t leave trying on uniforms and shoes until the morning they go back. Children have a habit of growing without us noticing.
Friends reunited
If they haven’t seen any of their school friends for a while, try to arrange a few play dates even if they’re online. This will help them reconnect and help build excitement about getting to play together again.
Returning to the routine
One of the benefits of homeschooling has been setting the alarm clock for a little bit later. Try and start going to bed and getting up earlier before the day they go back, so it’s not such a shock to the system and they’re not too tired to learn.
How can your child’s school play their part?
Help finding the new classroom
Some children will have changed classrooms, teachers or even school since they last attended a physical school. A quick video of their new surroundings and how to get there could help remove some anxiety.
Provide professional help
Try not to worry if your child is overly anxious about the return to school. If your reassurances are not helping, then contact the class teacher today to let them know. Sometimes a chat with an adult that is not a parent may provide the answers they need and if that doesn’t work then many schools have a school counsellor who will have helped other children who felt the same.
Being flexible
While the correct uniform and having all the right equipment on the right day were important pre-pandemic, the teachers at most schools are aware that it’s not as easy as it used to be to have everything we need and will allow some time to get back into the routine. Remember to try and control the things you can and don’t worry about the rest.
Danielle McPherson, Foundation teacher at the Australian International School Malaysia (AISM), shared with us what its littlest learners were looking forward to about making the move from virtual to physical school when they welcomed them back recently.
Happy to be back
It was clear to see even behind the masks and with the additional SOPs that both the parents and children were so happy to be back on campus. Whilst the children were desperate to go and dig in the sandpit with their friends and run freely around the playground, the parents were also over the moon to see their children so happy and interacting with their friends and teachers face to face, as if they had never been away.
The parents were also understandably delighted to no longer have to juggle the needs of homeschooling and home life, especially those with big families and children with short attention spans.
Michelle Chaplin, Head of Junior School at AISM, shared that they were all really excited about eventually having all its community back on campus. She also was keen to state that whichever school your child attends, however old they are and whatever their learning journey has been over the past 18 months, there is a team of teachers and other professionals there to help you. Whether you feel your child has fallen behind with their studies, or they just need reassurance that they’ll have someone to play with at lunch time, contact their teacher today so they are ready and raring to go back to real school.
Open Week from October 25 – 30
If you would like to find out how the experienced team at AISM can support your child, join AISM upcoming Open Week from October 25 – 30. They have a whole horde of exciting activities planned for Junior school as well as Middle and Senior school aspirants. AISM is offering 100% application rebate and up to 100% admissions fee waiver. Visit AISM website for more information, or contact a member of the friendly Admissions Team on 03-8949 5000 or email them here.
AISM is the most established Australian curriculum provider in Malaysia. For more than 20 years, AISM that employs predominantly Australian trained teachers, has catered for children from age 3 (Pre-school) to age 18 (Pre-University). Located in a secure gated community in Seri Kembangan, AISM overlooks the picturesque South Lake of The Mines Resort City, a short drive from Kuala Lumpur City Centre.
