by Ann Reavey, School Counselor

One thing that I know for sure is that as the pandemic has continued, we have grown stronger. We possess a host of new skills born from necessity, from scheduling extended family Zoom gatherings to wearing masks. Our strength has grown, and also our challenges remain taxing.

This is exhausting work for us all – faculty, students, and parents. Sustaining this pandemic-style engagement may be especially emotionally and cognitively fatiguing for children. Even with breaks during the school day, we will all need to carve out intentional restorative time following the school day. 

This does not have to be a parent-lead activity, but it may take parental oversight to provide free time for your child to actively de-stress. Younger children may need more guidance and prompts, whereas older children can be more independent as long as they have space in their schedule.

Here are some ideas (this is certainly not an exhaustive list) that can help you and your child establish a calming time after school.

The Basics: Your child will probably need a bit more sleep during the transition back to school. You may also want to offer some additional healthy snacks. Nutritious food and sufficient sleep are essentials to keep your child fueled for the school day. If your child is a virtual learner, plan for outdoor time, off of screens and in nature. Offer lots of water! When the weather is hot and the kids are outside for most of the day, watch out for dehydration.

Sensory Input: Each child’s sensory needs will be unique; however, some children may miss the input that comes from hugging friends or rambunctious recess play. These children may appreciate some hugs and snuggles after school. Other children may be sensory overloaded with the socializing and activities of a busy day at school, especially after a summer of being at home. These children will need a quiet and subdued environment for a bit after school. 

Literature: Some children want nothing more than to curl up with a book after a busy day. Depending on the age of the child, this may look more like curling up with a parent to enjoy a read aloud or to look at a well-loved picture book. Audio books may be a good choice especially paired with snuggling with a family pet, eating a snack, or an activity like drawing. Your child may want to return to a comfort book that they have read (and reread and reread again). Other children may seek a series with a familiar rhythm and pattern to the narrative.

Sounds and Music: Play some favorite and familiar songs or listen to relaxing sounds such as a campfire , bird songs , or ocean waves .

Guided Meditation: Through apps such as Calm on YouTube , you can access numerous guided meditations. Experiment to find one that clicks with your child. Go Noodle has a number of meditations for younger children. 

Visual Relaxation: This might be watching a pet fish or the wildlife in your backyard. You can also just take the time to watch the clouds changing in the sky or the rain falling outside your window. 

Mindfulness Activities: Jigsaw puzzles, doodling, knitting, board games, puzzles, sandbox play, gardening – all of these activities engage the senses and can bring us deeper into the present.

Live Animal Cams: Immerse yourself in the animal world! Here are a few engaging animal cams that can provide a restorative break from the school day: San Diego Zoo Penguin Cam , Georgia Aquarium Beluga Whale Cam , National Zoo Panda Cam , or Monterey Bay Aquarium Jellyfish Cam .

Water: As mentioned above, make sure you are well-hydrated, but also remember how refreshing it is to splash in water. Water play in the bathtub or in the backyard with a sprinkler and buckets is extremely restorative after an exhausting and hot day.

The post Replenishing Energy appeared first on Sabot at Stony Point.