Ways we can support our kids for a successful return to school
Ways we can support our kids for a successful return to school
In Quebec, over 300,000 students were forced to stay home from school between November 2023 and January 2024*. Fondation Jeunes en Tête watched closely with the rest of the population as the historic teachers’ strike unfolded. This month, children are gradually returning to classrooms and have a lot of catching up to do; a challenge made all that much harder for students who also have to overcome learning difficulties.
What’s the best way to support them so the transition back to school goes as smoothly as possible? Even more importantly, how do we identify the signs of psychological distress in teens and give them the help they need after being out of school for so long?
We met up with several experts and members of different school teams who are concerned about the challenges students are currently facing to highlight several actions you can take to support our kids as they gradually head back to class.
How has this time at home affected our kids’ mental health and balance?
Suzanne Vallières, psychologist and speaker, explains: “What I’m seeing right now in my office is a lot of anxiety and insomnia. Young people, who were already anxious before being forced out of school for 22 days, feel like they are starting the school year all over again.” There’s also the risk that they may experience heavy mental and emotional pressure in the coming weeks as well as fatigue from all the catch-up they’ll have to do.
Stéphanie**, a high-school special education teacher, provides this insight: “Every teacher has to be prepared for the state in which they may find some of their students. Teens may be returning to class unmotivated, anxious and fearful of failing given the volume of material they now have to learn.”
She explains that the isolation young people endured during the time off has likely led some to feel a detachment from responsibilities, a loss of routine and reference points, and a sense of abandonment. “Family life for some teens can also be difficult, and for them, school represents a safe, supportive place. Hopefully, this period of isolation hasn’t affected their morale too badly.”
Jeanne**, an ESL teacher at a high school, adds: “For lots of students, their main source of socialization is school, and the strike took this away from them. I think that the mental health of many students has probably been affected by this lack of contact with their friends. Despite having access to different social networking platforms, nothing can replace real face time.”
That most at-risk students are those that have learning difficulties or challenges. Marie-Claude Guay, neuropsychologist and psychology professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM), makes the following point: “For these individuals, the hill they need to climb back up is steeper. Typically, they need more learning opportunities than the norm, so the roughly 10% delay in the school year is huge for them.”
Anxious teens also need to be watched according to her: “The return to class can further stress this group of teens, who often don’t handle uncertainty very well. The change to their school situation may destabilize them a bit.” The psychology professor nonetheless reassures us by pointing out that the majority of young people will not experience any serious or significant consequences.
As a teaching staff member, how can you prepare for the return to class and best support your students?
Like Stéphanie, Jeanne is worried about the state in which she’ll find her students: “Many students go through school feeling anxious, and I’m afraid that the strike has hurt their state of mind.”
The two teachers urge us to do what we did during the pandemic: get back to appreciating the essentials and be vigilant for changes in young peoples’ attitudes. We need to reassure, accompany and support students to help them get through this catch-up phase.
In addition to the plan put in place by the Minister of Education, Jeanne says she’ll be offering more make-up classes at dinnertime so she’s available if students need the help: “I’m also going to set up periods where students can come by and speak with me if they feel stressed, disappointed or even frustrated.”
She plans on working with her colleagues to find ways to cover all the material with their students, without overloading them.
In her opinion, Suzanne Vallières urges teaching staff to not eliminate break times during class because of the need to catch up. Doing so could create additional stress and fatigue for young people. “Teachers can also ask their students how the return to class is going, and above all, reassure them about the next few months. Our kids need to feel secure and understood. They must be supported, not judged.”
Marie-Claire Guay adds that tutoring in small groups is an excellent option for students with learning difficulties. The neuropsychologist and psychology professor at UQÀM adds that teachers need to especially keep an eye open and listen attentively. “Teaching staff have the advantage of already knowing their students compared to the September back-to-school period. They need to look for behavioural changes in the young person they knew at the start of the school year and the person today. They can compare before and after.”
Professor Guay stresses that we need to act immediately if we notice that a student seems to be more depressed or unmotivated. Don’t wait until a student has a breakdown; it’s important that they receive psychological or academic help in time.
Here’s a summary table to help you evaluate a young person’s level of distress based on their behaviour and words 👇
📝 Download the info sheetWhat can I do as a parent to help my teen navigate the situation?
When it comes to parents, Stéphanie recommends that they iron out the creases caused by the prolonged period at home. Start by reducing your teens’ screen time and encourage them instead to keep their minds active by reviewing the material they learned before the strike or by picking up a book.
There are a number of free, accessible websites such as Alloprof or Academos (in French only) full of great resources for parents. “When you’re in a situation like a strike, you need to make sure kids stay physically active, enjoy some family time and keep up contact with neighbourhood friends to prevent a sense of isolation and demotivation. They need to maintain a good balance in their lives despite these periods of change.”
Psychologist and speaker Suzanne Vallières agrees with these recommendations and adds: “One thing I’ve been telling parents this week is to be more understanding and accept the fact that their kids are going to be more tired. You want to try and establish a good routine, allow them to unwind when they get home by playing outside in the fresh air, taking a bath or reading. Don’t panic if you see your child having a hard time. Talk to their teachers instead and find solutions together.” She also reminds us that teens need at least nine hours of sleep so they can sufficiently recharge.
Jeanne, the ESL teacher, also encourages parents to quiz their kids about what they think of the situation. “If they feel their child is really being affected by the strike and its effects, they could have frank conversations with them so they know how best to help them.”
Marie-Claude Guay states that it’s essential to keep an open channel of communication with the school team. “The government has allocated a new budget to provide more help in schools to deal with the current situation, so let’s use it if we need it. Go for it, make the most of the public services available to you at schools!”
Fondation Jeune en Tête’s mission is to equip our teens’ teachers, parents and support staff to succeed. “As a partner for the school network, we’re aware of the magnitude of the challenge that teachers are facing as kids go back to school. The most vulnerable youth are in an even more precarious situation than they were before the strike. We have to make sure that not a single one of them falls between the cracks during this uncertain period that some teens are going to find stressful,” explains Mélanie Boucher, President and CEO of the Foundation.
Our young people need us to be there as soon as the first bell rings to help them deal with the uncertainty in the coming months. Let’s give them the support they need. Don’t hesitate to consult and share our free tools for members of the school community and parents of teens 👇
Download our checklist for a successful return to schoolOur tools for schools
Building stronger relationships with students through mentalization
Through concrete examples of classroom situations, discover how to apply mentalization, a super-effective tool for cultivating healthy relationships with others and with yourself.
Watch the video
Responding to a student in psychological distress
Learn how to respond when faced with psychological distress with our comprehensive mini-guide.
Helping teens better manage their performance anxiety
Learn how to help your students better manage their anxiety with our comprehensive mini-guide.
School toolkit: resources for school staff
Simple and turnkey tools for developing young people’s mental heathl: lesson plans, guides, videos, info sheets, podcasts… You can introduce mental health in any way you want: in small bites or in a comprehensive way.
Learn moreOur tools for families
Building a better relationship with your teen through mentalization
Through concrete examples of situations at home, discover how to apply mentalization, a super-effective tool for cultivating healthy relationships with others and with yourself.
Watch the video
Helping your teen better manage their anxiety
A complete mini-guide to help your teen better manage their anxiety.
Teenage anxiety - Parents testimonies
Here are a few testimonials in which parents talk about their teen’s anxiety and how they react to it.
Watch the video
Family toolkit: resources to help a teenager
Simple information and practical advice to help parents better understand adolescence and psychological distress, without prejudices or taboos.
*https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2031084/enfant-difficulte-apprentissage-pandemie-greve
**Fictitious names. The teachers wished to remain anonymous, as our interview took place during the negotiation period.