Nishtha Shrestha

After months of distance learning, children are finally returning to their classrooms. While the impact of this long and unwanted break is yet to be assessed, parents and educators can now focus on adjusting children to the new routine. There is no doubt that the school which the children will be officially returning to will appear different to them. With the safety protocols hopefully in place, the children are expected to face restrictions in their freedom to engage in normal school activities.
Children have demonstrated unexpected resilience in this pandemic. Being forced to stay indoors and away from friends was quite challenging even for adults. But these young minds learnt to blend with the situation and persevered with the help from their support system. Children who are going back to schools are likely to have a variety of emotions before they actually start learning.
The fear of the pandemic has reduced since its first appearance nevertheless it is the responsibility of the caretakers to address such emotions of children. Some parents are likely to be apprehensive and this fear will be passed on to children. It would be beneficial for children as well as teachers if the parents take time to clarify the doubts their children have before restarting school. The outcomes of this effort will include prevention of misconceptions being shared in school, a calm child and less stress on schools to implement the safety guidelines.
The focus of schools in the coming months will be to complete the academic syllabus. Not all children have had the privilege to study due to the economic pressures of the pandemic. Teachers tried different teaching methods to reach out to the children but the response of the children in the upcoming classes will determine the effectiveness of these methods. Along with the parents, teachers have worked endlessly to support the children during the pandemic.
Now as the children return, the responsibility of teachers has increased furthermore. After the earthquake, teachers played an important role in identifying and helping children deal with the memories of the earthquake. This past learning will be helpful to regulate children and re-establish feelings of safety to be in school. If teachers can monitor the mental health of the students along with the academic status, children who are struggling can be provided support in the early stages.
The reopening of schools is a sign of normalcy. But the parents need to pack their children's schoolbags with more than just books to help them learn in the new school environment. The pandemic has altered the school calendar and has taken away many opportunities for children’s development within schools.
There will be a tendency to return to the old habits after spending some days in school, however, the only solution is to constantly reinforce the safety rules which will allow schools to continue their operations smoothly. Each child behaves differently to a change, and addressing their curiosities will help them acquire the personal tools needed to face the situation at hand.