Tips to help your kids handle difficult situations at school

Every school year can bring its own challenges but this year is likely to add a few more. From hybrid learning and loneliness to academics and bullying, there is a lot kids could face in a time where nothing feels certain. Here are some tips to help your kids handle difficult situations at school.

1. Loneliness

Making friends can be challenging for some kids based on their personality, maturity level, confidence, and situation (e.g., changing schools). Throw in hybrid learning, facial expressions hidden behind masks, and required quarantines and you’ve got even more hurdles to overcome. But that doesn’t mean making friends is impossible!

ACTIONS TO TAKE: Consider doing some role playing at home, brainstorming scenarios and potential questions to get a conversation rolling. You may want to enroll your child in an activity (such as sports, choir, or an after-school club) or be more proactive in scheduling “play dates” or sleepovers—especially if your student’s school shifts to distance or hybrid learning, which will give them fewer opportunities to make friends at school.

2. Academic struggles

While tutoring may help a student who needs help in one particular subject, it may not be the best solution for a learning struggle that’s manifesting in multiple classes. The root cause of most learning disabilities is weak cognitive skills. These are the foundational set of cognitive abilities that include attention, short-term memory, long-term memory, visual processing, auditory processing, logic and reasoning, and processing speed. These skills are critical because they are the very skills the brain uses to think, learn, read, remember, pay attention, and solve problems.

ACTIONS TO TAKE: LearningRx personal brain training is designed to target and strengthen weak cognitive skills. We start with a Brain Skills Assessment to determine which skills could use a boost, then create a personalized one-on-one brain training program based on those results. To learn more, visit www.learningrx.com.

3. Bullying

There are lots of reasons kids bully but that’s almost an irrelevant point if your child is on the receiving end of the problem. Bullying isn’t just physical or verbal nowadays. Cyber bullying is a whole other ballgame. Focus on what you can do to help your child avoid bullying, diffuse the situation, or report the problem.

ACTIONS TO TAKE: Monitor your child’s online activities, text messages, and social media. Be aware of certain social networks that are ripe for bullying, including SnapChat, where messages disappear after 24 hours. Consider enrolling them in some form of martial arts, which not only teaches self-defense, but also gives kids tools to diffuse risky situations. Encourage your child to tell an adult if they’re being bullied at school, in the neighborhood, or online. Communicate with your student by asking questions to help them discuss their experiences. If need be, have them talk to a counselor or therapist.