For example, if there’s a park nearby, you might have a picnic with your friends and their parents at the park. Small gatherings outside are perfectly safe and it will give you a chance to hang out with your friends and talk about the upcoming school year. You might also talk to your parents about asking a close friend over for a sleepover. It’ll be that much easier to walk into school on the first day knowing your friend will be there. Think of any small thing that might make you feel more excited to go to class, for example, a discussion or a presentation. [2] X Expert Source Ronitte Libedinsky, MSAcademic Tutor Expert Interview. 26 May 2020.
Be specific about the things that you’re worried about. For example, you might be wondering what happens if someone in your class gets COVID-19. If your parents don’t have the answers, they can contact your school. Nothing is silly if it’s something you’re worried about. For example, you might be wondering what you should do if you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of class. Most teachers are fine letting you go if you raise your hand and ask permission. Don’t try to play it tough or act like you don’t have any worries if you do. It’s perfectly natural to be nervous or concerned about going back to school—after all, you’ve been told for over a year that it wasn’t safe to go to school. Talking it out can help you feel better. [4] X Research source
Deep breathing[6] X Research source : When you start to feel tense or anxious, breathe in through your nose deeply and slowly, expanding your chest until your lungs are completely full. Hold that breath for just a second, then breathe out through your mouth, just as slowly as you breathed in. Do this 5 to 10 times to calm yourself. Progressive muscle relaxation[7] X Research source : Start with your hands. Tense the muscles or squeeze your hands into tight fists, then release. Go up your arms tensing the muscles, then relaxing them. Then, move down your torso and legs. Grounding[8] X Trustworthy Source University of Rochester Medical Center Leading academic medical center in the U. S. focused on clinical care and research Go to source : Count down from 5, going through each of your senses. Start by looking around and naming 5 things you can see. Then, think of 4 things you can feel (such as your shirt, the back of the chair, or the floor under your feet). Listen for 3 sounds, then find 2 things you can smell. Finally, name 1 thing you can taste. If you can’t taste anything, just think of your favorite flavor![9] X Research source
For example, your target wake-up time for school might be 6 a. m. If you normally get up some time between 9 and 10 a. m. now, set your alarm to get up at 8 a. m. for 3 or 4 days. Then, set it back to 7 a. m. for the next 3 or 4 days. By the time school starts, you’ll be getting up at 6 a. m. with no problems. Remember to set your bedtime earlier too. You want to try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night, so if you’re getting up at 6 a. m. , that means you need to be in bed by 10:00 p. m. That’s not so early, is it? About an hour before bedtime, turn off your screens and start winding down. That’ll help you get ready for bed. You might want to listen to soft, relaxing music or read a book.
Your school will have information about the specific supplies you need for your classes. Ask your parents if they’ve gotten a letter about it. The same information might also be available on your school’s website. You can also take this opportunity to turn your virtual schooling area into your homework area. Having everything there ready for you will make it easier to get started when you come home every day. You can make homework more fun by giving yourself rewards for completing it. [11] X Expert Source Ronitte Libedinsky, MSAcademic Tutor Expert Interview. 26 May 2020. Keep a calendar to have a consistent study schedule. [12] X Expert Source Ronitte Libedinsky, MSAcademic Tutor Expert Interview. 26 May 2020.
You might need to get a parent to call and set up a time when you can go into the building and look around. If you’re not allowed to enter the building, see if you can find a map of the school online. Mark your classroom and other important places, then draw lines through the hallways on the map to trace your route.
If you have a smartphone, see if your school has an app you can download. The app will have all the latest information so you can stay informed in case there are any changes.
Don’t worry if you have a hard time wearing a mask all day when you first start. Just gradually increase the amount of time you wear your mask until you’re wearing it all day. If your school allows you to wear any mask you want, talk to your parents about getting some with designs that you like. It’ll be more fun to wear your mask if it has your favorite characters on it.
If you get the vaccine, you might still get the virus—but you won’t get as sick. It’s important to keep using similar safety precautions, such as wearing masks and keeping your distance from people.
If you’re thinking you want to stay in virtual school rather than going back to in-person learning, talk to your parents about it as soon as possible. If you wait until right before school starts, you might not have as many options. Remember that this decision is not entirely yours—if your parents want you to go back to in-person learning, you might not have the option. This is another reason it’s good to talk to them as soon as possible. You want plenty of time to get ready.
