Abu Dhabi return to school: Helping kids move from online to in-person learning

After a long period of time at home on distance learning, Abu Dhabi has now announced a gradual return to in-classroom learning for all grades. Ensuring children are eased back into the regime of school carefully is vital, say experts.

You can expect some regressions in everything from mood regulation and reading fluency to toileting and feeding independently in younger children, says Dr Diksha Laungani, an educational psychologist in Dubai. As children re-acquaint with new routines and structures and develop a sense of belonging at school, they will be able to catch-up quickly. Focus on what they can do well, says Dr Laungani, rather than highlighting the gaps in their learning at the beginning.

Keep an eye out for changes in mood or physical symptoms that appear the night before school, in the mornings or after school, says Dr Laungani. Some children may experience the impact of difficult emotions in their body, through unexplained and frequent headaches or tummy aches. Recognising them as worry signs and addressing the fears in a comforting yet firm manner is your best bet.

Dr Laila Mahmoud, Specialist Psychiatrist at Medcare Hospital Sharjah, says a temporary regression may be experienced in some children as they protect themselves from the anxiety and change. Regression can be in the form of undesirable behavioural changes like baby talk, bed wetting, tantrums, academic regression, or isolation and withdrawal. Be emotional and caring, show them how much they are loved and cared for and safe. Stress on the role of family, using simple words like ‘we are together, we are safe’. Understand that regression is a transient state of short duration, and doesn’t deserve to cause permanent damage in your child’s personality.

Children can often struggle to express their feelings, says Dr Laila Mahmoud. Give them child-appropriate words to identify their emotions, asking questions like, ‘are you sad?’, ‘are you afraid?’, ‘are you angry?’, ‘are you mad?’. Show them that you understand how they feel.

To help Dubai students and parents cope with concerns about school life in the time of COVID-19, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) uploaded an illustrated storybook on its website, to help kids envisage all the changes that they may see on going back to school. The free-to-download book follows Majid on his first day back to school, from getting ready to school to coming back home safely, and is available on the KHDA website.

Before your child returns to in-classroom learning, get off to a good start by incorporating elements of the routine such as going to bed, waking up and providing some level of structure, with flexibility through the day, says Dr Sarah Rasmi, clinical psychologist ad founder of Thrive in Dubai. “At Thrive we have routine cards like brushing the teeth, taking a bath, as well as art and craft time, play time etc. What can be nice for younger kids is giving them some autonomy to set and create their routine so it’s not the same every day but at the same time is something predictable.”

This technique went viral last year when it was first shared by a UK-based mummy blogger, and it can act as a great psychological reassurance for younger children who may be daunted by being around their peers and away from their family again.

Thrive's Dr Sarah Rasmi advises giving your child a toolbox of potential strategies that he or she can use when feeling stressed, as well as pinpointing the responsible adult that they should turn to if they have worries at school. Bubble breathing and visualisation can help children; read more about techniques like this: https://gulfnews.com/parenting/child-health/uae-covid-19-8-child-friendly-meditations-to-relax-anxious-kids-1.1597592509047

Some students have been distance learning at a school they have never actually attended in person. For new schools, browse for pictures of the school online, or on their official social media account (some schools have one), says educational psychologist Dr Diksha Laungani. “It will help you and your child visualise what the new environment may look like. A fun activity would be to chalk out what the new ‘socially-distanced’ classroom could look like, using art or toys at home.” Dr Laungani advises that Social Stories, developed by Carol Gray, include a short visual and/or written description of a social situation, event or activity, and are evidence-based tools which could help make the abstract process of returning to school a little more concrete for some children, including those with SEND or anxiety.

Do reach out to other parents that you know of and their children, says Dr Laungani: "Knowing that others out there are coping with similar worries will help you and your child feel more contained. Speak to your child about the people that they are most looking forward to re-connecting with at school as they will form a secure base for your child."