Returning to school this fall has been welcomed by many as a return to some normalcy. A return to some routines, schedules and reminders of what life used to be like. What we need to remember is that it is not the same. Especially the sensory experiences of school. For kids that struggle with sensory regulation, this is a whole new experience that can make it a harder transition.
Here are some things to think about:
Sounds:
With the requirement to wear masks, everything sounds a little bit different. Sounds are not as clear and they may sound muffled. For kids that use the lips to help them understand words better, not being able to see someones lips makes it more challenging.
Smells:
Have you ever really thought about the change in smell when you are wearing a mask? You can smell the mask, your breath and maybe the food you just ate but I must admit it is not my favourite smells. The smell of the hand sanitzers is also a new smell that can vary depending on the brand. When I was in school, I used to enjoy the smell of erasers, the smell of my teachers perfume (when they could still wear some), the smell of the balls in gym class, the smell of clean clothes, etc. Not being able to smell the different scents is a new experience and one that may impact a child especially when there are calming scents they love.
Sights
Seeing people in mask is also a very different experience. Remember when you were sad at school and your teacher would just look over at you and give you a little smile or mouth ‘it’s okay’ and it made you feel better. When your teacher is wearing a mask, it is harder to see those subtle expressions. Or when your teacher is proud of you for achieving something you worked so hard at and their smiling is beaming, its not the same with the mask on. When a child relies on visual reinforcement, a mask can distort that.
The layout of the spaces, the marks on the floors, the arrows and red lines, the do not enter signs for the office. Desks spread out and facing forward, circles on fields to stay inside. These are all visual changes that may make it feel less welcoming for kids, especially kids that already have a hard time navigating school rules or walking in straight lines.
So what can we do to help kids,
- Give them grace for behaviours that may arise. We all feel overwhelmed sometimes
- Acknowledge their feelings
- Talk about their feelings. Don’t try to correct them, make them less than or give them solutions. Let them tell you in their words, what it is they struggle with.
- Give them time and space. This is all new, it will take some time to get used to. Have very little expectations during after school routines. When you are physically and emotionally fatigued and you have held together your anxiety at school all day, you need the comfort and security of home to feel safe and be able to find calm.
- Have a routine in place that kids can follow and know what to expect every day. Check out our post on routines and why they are important.
Parenting isn’t easy at the best of times, we have just added a whole new level on top of the one we already had to navigate. We can do this, with a little bit of patience and a lot of grace for ourselves and our kids, we can help build their resilience to also navigate new and changing times.
Want suggestions or help with your child’s sensory needs. We are here to help. Just reach out. We are parents just like you, navigating the world together.
