Stand a chance to win 7 days of luxury accommodation in Umhlanga, KZN, when you tell us what makes your Novaneer child stand out. 

We may be biased but we believe that Novaneers (Nova Pioneer students) stand out amongst their peers. 

They’re the kind of students who aim high. They’re empowered to lead, to grow, to do more, be more and achieve great things.  #HighExpectations

Novaneers are resilient and adaptable in uncertainty. We saw this when schools closed last year and they had to pivot to a new way of learning (#AlwaysGrowing). They worked together with their peers and teachers to thrive during what may have been the toughest year for all of us. #GreaterTogether 

Our students are always pushing boundaries. They think fast to solve problems and, most importantly, they solve problems together. #SolutionsFirst

Their confidence is off the charts. They’re the kind of students who speak up because they know their voice matters! #JoyOfLearning

But most importantly, Novaneers stand out because of their big hearts – they care deeply about their peers, their learning and their teachers. #ServantLeaders

Enough about what we think however, we want to hear from you mom, dad, sister, brother or even you Novaneer, what you think makes a Novaneer stand out. How do you stand out?

Post on social media showing us what makes your Novaneer child a stand-out student, be creative and get all your friends to like and share. Tag @novapioneer_sa on Instagram and Twitter, Nova Pioneer South Africa on Facebook and @novapioneer on TikTok, using the hashtag #imaNovaneer. 

The post with the highest engagement, this includes likes, shares and comments (views excluded) will win 7 days of luxury accommodation in Umhlanga, KZN (please see terms and conditions below).

P.S: Make sure your profile is public in order for us to view and enter your video into the draw

Terms & conditions: 

• This competition is open ONLY to current Nova Pioneer parents from schools in South Africa. Entrants would have to be a current parent at the time of the competition closing on 15 November 2021. 
• There will be one prize of a 6-night stay at a 3 bedroom self-catering apartment in Umhlanga, KZN (sleeping a max of 6 people). This prize can only be redeemed in low or mid-season (excludes December and early January). Travel, meals, and entertainment are excluded from this prize and will be for the winner’s own account. 
• The prize must be redeemed before 15 November 2022. Dates will be subject to availability.
• Nova Pioneer parents and students may enter the competition utilising the following mechanism: 
  • Current Nova Pioneer parents will have to film their child (or themselves) talking about what makes their Nova Pioneer child stand out from the rest. They need to post the video online (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or TikTok) using the hashtag #imaNovaneer and tag us on their post. The video with the most engagements (likes and shares – not views) as of 15 November 2021, will win the above-mentioned prize.
  • By entering the competition through the use of the hashtag, Nova Pioneer will consider this consent from the entrant to post on their social media platforms.
• The winner is required to pay a R2000 breakage deposit before the stay
• Nova Pioneer has a right (with consent from the winners to): (i) electronically publish and distribute the photos of these prize winners in any website or social media platform

(ii) include the photo(s) in advertising and promotion materials; and 

(iii) to include the photo(s) in print and non-print products.  

• The winner will be notified by direct message via the associated social media platform.  
• Prizes are not exchangeable, transferable or exchangeable for cash. 
• The prize must be claimed within one month from the date of the draw.
• All unclaimed prizes will be forfeited by 30 June 2022.  
• Parents are to abide by the rules and regulations stated by the organizer.  
• In case of dispute, the organizer’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained.  
• This competition runs from 20 October 2021 to 15 November 2021. The winner will be announced on 20 November 2021.  
• Nova Pioneer reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions of or withdraw this competition if required by the authorities.

 

Simikazi Deyi expresses the importance of mother tongue languages in an article in 2018 that states, “Language is not just a series of words, but includes certain nuances that emerge in the form of idioms, metaphors and euphemisms, as well as praises. Language is therefore tied intrinsically to a sense of belonging, which is in turn linked to society and its values”. In a country where our differences have so often divided us, our school is always looking for tangible opportunities to acknowledge the spectrum of who we are. 

 

Language has historically been a divisive tool in education. Used to disempower, to segregate, and to alienate children from access to quality education. One simply needs to reflect on the 1976 Soweto Uprising to realise how powerful a tool language is in creating equitable access to education. In modern day South Africa, we still struggle with classism and bias based on people’s accents when they speak in English. As schools serving children on the African continent, it is our responsibility to work to create a cohesive society, and the acknowledgement of our language diversity is one of many ways we can make this possible for our learners. 

 

A starting point for us was to embrace the different languages spoken by our students. In social and break settings, we do not prohibit students from speaking in their mother tongue. Rather, we seek to empower our students to understand how to include their peers, and not allow children of differing languages to feel excluded from a social group. We also encourage our students to learn language through socialising with their peers, who may speak a different language. This is a more complicated approach than simply saying everyone must speak English, however, the long term impact on social cohesion is more meaningful. 

 

With all this in mind, our team launched our first Love Your Mother Tongue Week (LYMT Week) in 2019. LYMT Week is a week where parents can book a slot to come in to visit their child’s class during the Morning Meeting, which is the first half hour of the day. During this time parents are invited to read a story, teach the children a song, or recite a poem in their mother tongue. During COVID parents have been able to join via Zoom. Since starting LYMT Week, we have been treated to the most rewarding recognition of who we are as a nation. Our children have experienced parents celebrating the various indigenous South African languages, Asianlanguages, English, Afrikaans, languages from the Middle East, as well languages from throughout Africa by introducing them to the rich nuances of their languages through music, poetry and storytelling. 

 

We host this each term in an effort to normalise the differences that make us who we are, and being mindful to not just doing this once a year on a national holiday. Operationally, this is a very simple event, which requires no changes to our timetable, and is facilitated with a simple booking form. While it is very little work to organise, the power and impact of it is huge. It is however, important that the true shift does not just come from a termly event, but rather from interrogating our policies about language, and language diversity, both formal and informal. We should continue to strive to create cohesion through our everyday actions and daily acknowledgement of our differences, or else events like this will remain hollow and will be unable to affect the change we need to see in our society.

 

High school is the final phase of basic education, and the seeds planted in high school will be the fruits that will grow in tertiary. Looking for a high school for your child is no small feat. Parents want to know that their children are well prepared in high school to face tertiary education.

 

1. Find out what happens to students after they matriculate

 

A school’s post-high school success rate is one of the first things parents ought to consider when looking for a high school for their child. At Nova Pioneer, we place great value on students’ post-high school success. We strongly believe many elements can impact a student’s ability to succeed after completing high school. Thus, we want to ensure that students perform well academically at our institutions and ensure that they feel supported and prepared to succeed beyond Nova Pioneer. 

 

2. Additional support programmes

 

The kind of support a high school provides their students, specifically with regards to tertiary support programmes, exposure and resources – is as important as the school’s success rate. Our Post-School Success (PSS) programme at Nova Pioneer is designed to leverage different stakeholders in the student’s ecosystem, to facilitate the student’s exploration and understanding of themselves. The programme is a unique offering available to our senior high school students and it provides our students with personalised guidance on exploring post-school options.

 

3. Educational philosophy 

 

Parents should understand the unique educational philosophy of the school that they’re considering for their child. Schools operate with different educational values and some might not be aligned with your family values or the values you wish to instil in your child. For example, public schools are typically driven by a directive to teach in order to test. On the other hand, independent schools, like Nova Pioneer, have much more creativity and flexibility to develop our curriculum to allow our students to learn in a more all-inclusive way. We, at Nova Pioneer, are intentionally developing generations of innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century.

 

4. Academic programme

 

Parents should also get a sense of what the academic programme of the school looks like and how it fits into their child’s needs. Your child will be spending their last years of basic education at that school; make sure that the school offers classes that interest and challenge your child. Nova Pioneer offers the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) curriculum, designed to teach students how to learn and how to go on learning. Our role goes beyond helping students achieve good results, and beyond giving students passports for progression to university or employment. We give our students a curriculum that will bring lifelong success in tomorrow’s world.

 

5. Classroom experience

 

Parents ought to have a guided experience around the high schools that they’re considering for their children. Make sure that you see the on-campus offering, facilities and how the classrooms are structured. In our classroom experience, Nova Pioneer invites parents to become students again by having them experience our unique way of teaching and experiencing what it’s like to be a Novaneer.

What parents need to remember is that there is no right or wrong way of selecting a high school for your child. Parents need to consider what will work best for their children. Place the needs of your child first when choosing a high school for them. And remember, whatever the high school has to offer your child, at the end of their high school career, the school needs to have prepared them for the next level of education post-high school.

 

Source

 

Each year, parents enter into a co-guardianship with their child’s teacher. Each of us in this partnership plays our different roles, but we all strive to surround the child and put their needs at the centre. Our common goal is to have the child succeed throughout the year and to ensure they are happy in the school environment. Attaining that goal is more likely when parents develop a good relationship with their child’s teacher.

As with all healthy relationships, it is important to establish effective and open channels of communication through which the parents and teacher can identify areas of common ground, develop mutual respect and understanding. In this way, parents and teachers form the foundation for rich and meaningful dialogue around our children’s education.

So, how can you develop an understanding of who your child’s teacher is? To get to the heart of a teacher’s personality and to find out what drives them, I propose the following five questions. The answers will give you a picture of the person your child spends part of their day at school with.

 

What led you to become a teacher?

 

Most educators have a story to tell about how they ventured into teaching. Their story informs you on how they teach and how they relate to their students in the classroom. This will give you a window into the kind of classroom environment that the teacher will create and it will reveal why your child’s teacher shows up to work every day as well as what makes them passionate about what they do.

What do you want most for my child this year?

The beliefs and expectations the teacher has of each student can directly impact student achievement and growth. This question sheds light on how your child is viewed by the teacher and gives an indication of how the year will progress.

How do you view mistakes and how do you discipline students?

Knowing a teacher’s style of discipline and how they deal with the inevitable mistakes that children make, will help you gain a clearer picture of what is happening in the classroom. Knowing the teacher’s views on discipline will help you to understand the teacher’s reaction to any given event. Often teachers choose to work at certain schools because their personal views on discipline align with that of the school. However, it is important to understand your child’s teacher’s personal views.

What is your philosophy on education?

A teacher’s philosophy on education will determine how your child is taught, how much their voice will be heard as well as the students; access to certain resources. How you can successfully advocate for your child can be greatly influenced by how well you understand your child’s teacher’s approach to education. A deeper understanding of the teacher’s core beliefs of teaching and learning can allow you to develop a strong partnership with the teacher which will, in turn, have a positive impact on your child’s school year.

What is your expectation of us as parents and what does good communication look like to
you?

In any relationship, it is good to understand what each person’s expectations are to keep things harmonious. I would suggest that you seek to understand early on what your child’s teacher expects from you as a parent. Knowing this will allow you to establish rules of engagement with the teacher and also give you the opportunity to discuss how this fits in with other things that you have to do as a parent. Gaining an understanding of this from the outset can lead to conversations about where you are struggling and where you need help.

Your ultimate goal is to get to know your child’s teacher and I would encourage you to make this a priority. Make an effort to learn about and value the individuality of this very significant person in your child’s life. I would also suggest that parents reflect on what five things you would like your child’s teacher to know about you. This will go a long way in building a parent and teacher relationship that will ultimately benefit your child.

 

We live in an ever-changing and demanding world and children will be presented with opportunities and challenges, many of which will be new to their parents. The Cambridge curriculum was adopted by Nova Pioneer with the aim to equip students with the skills required to not only cope in the 21st century but to thrive in it.

Nova Pioneer delivers the Cambridge curriculum using a unique blended and enquiry-based learning model. With this, we persistently challenge our students to aim high and achieve beyond the ordinary, to seek out opportunities and research solutions that enable them to shape the world they live in. This is another reason why parents should consider a Cambridge curriculum for their children.

 

Cambridge curriculum offers students flexibility

 

The four stages of the Cambridge curriculum leads seamlessly from primary to secondary and pre-university years. Each stage – Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Upper Secondary and Cambridge Advanced – builds on the learners’ development from the previous one, but can also be offered separately.

The Cambridge progression pathway in Secondary School at Nova Pioneer begins with Lower Secondary in the first and second year of Secondary School. The focus in these years is mostly on laying a very strong base in mathematics, science, and literacy in order to facilitate the high expectations of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and Advanced Levels (A-Levels).

IGCSE in the third and fourth year of high school is in itself an exit phase that provides students with an internationally recognized certificate that allows them access to tertiary institutions and the workplace. Depending on their performance in the IGCSE, students have a choice to do their Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level), which is a university preparation phase that is academically intensive. 

Students can also opt to do the A-Levels or Grade 13 over two years, which is the preferred option for stronger academic candidates as universities give higher Admission Point Scores (APS) for A-level study. This can make students more competitive for admission into highly selective institutions, courses, or admission into international universities.

 

Cambridge versus Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS)

 

When faced with the choice between CAPS and Cambridge, parents often have questions as to what are the fundamental differences between the two curricula. Firstly, CAPS, as with any state offered curriculum, is aimed at mass progression. The aim of state curricula is to support the bulk of the population through the curriculum and provide general literacy for as many students as possible, hence the lower pass requirement. Cambridge, especially after the IGSE’s, is primarily focused on tertiary preparedness and progression (at an international level), with significantly higher pass requirements.

With the CAPS curriculum, students have a wider range of subject choices, however, these are not covered in as much depth as those subjects offered as part of the Cambridge curriculum. Furthermore, given its aim of mass progression, CAPS offers a very set curriculum with prescribed resources and textbooks, which fully cover the content examined. Conversely, the Cambridge curriculum offers teachers more flexibility to bring their own interpretation to the material. Lastly, CAPS’ final exams focus on the assessment of the content, whereas with Cambridge, it’s the assessment of skill.

The Cambridge curriculum teaches students to develop an intentional interest and desire for learning, and it also equips them with the necessary skills required to succeed at major universities and corporate companies anywhere in the world. It provides students with an internationally recognized education that prepares them to compete globally in pursuit of their academic and career development.

 

 

As children grow in their early childhood years and enter pre-primary school, their world begins to open up. They want to explore and frequently ask about the things around them. Eventually, their interactions with others help to shape their ways of thinking and moving.

Early childhood development progresses gradually and continuously in clearly defined phases. It is most important that parents send their children to pre-primary schools that are equipped with teachers who are skilled at working with young children during this crucial period of their lives. Teachers in pre-primary school play an important role in ensuring that your child has a strong foundation for their future school career. 

At Nova Pioneer we believe that a strong educational foundation in pre-primary school is vital to not only shaping your child’s academic success but also in paving their road for success in life. How your child learns and develops mentally, emotionally, physically and socially is critical to us. At Nova Pioneer, we use a unique integrated approach to support our youngest of students’ growth. We offer vast opportunities to develop your child’s intellectual curiosity and love of learning. Here are the 5 skills that you can expect your child to develop in pre-primary school:

 

Independence

 

We’ve realized that children become more independent in pre-primary school. Naturally, becoming more independent enables children to take care of their own basic needs, to be mindful of their belongings, and to develop their self-confidence. Nurturing your child’s independence is vital in pre-primary school because it encourages them to not only be resourceful and to learn how to solve problems on their own, but it also gives them the confidence to build up their student voice.

 

Language skills

 

Language develops rapidly during pre-primary school years. There is an increase in the scope and function of speech, and children start to use words to resolve conflict. They understand the conversation and volunteer their own ideas and opinions. Their concentration, memory and attention span increase and they begin to participate in discussions to make sense of the world that they live in.

 

Social skills

 

Consequently, children become more socially aware in pre-primary school, and they learn how to get along with others. They share more readily at school, take turns with one another more easily, and begin to work through conflict peacefully. Their play evolves from parallel to interactive play and they are comfortable forming friendships in a pre-primary school environment. Also, pre-primary school is where children begin to learn more about social cues and it’s where their individual personalities begin to unfold as they are exposed to different people from different backgrounds.

 

Physical development

 

Children attending pre-primary school learn how to intentionally use and control their bodies through the various physical activities they engage in at school. There are also striking physical changes in their body proportions during this time as they grow and partake in challenging physical undertakings when they play with their peers. They become capable and confident of more strenuous activities and learn to have greater endurance. Pre-primary school is also where children start to develop dominance and learn to have control over their hand muscles, which is an essential part of physical development during this phase of their lives.

 

Emotional maturity

 

In pre-primary school, children learn to outgrow the heightened emotionality of temper tantrums. Emotions begin to colour their lives. They become better at controlling their emotions and can be reasoned with. They overcome problems with separation from their parents more easily as they interact with other children and they are able to build trust with their teachers and peers. Lastly, emotions become more evident in children’s facial expressions in pre-primary school. Their body posture, movements and tone of voice help both parents and teachers to easily identify the children’s emotional cues. 

 

There is so much pressure on students to succeed when they first enter Grade 8, so much so that they can miss the opportunity to actually enjoy the journey and the experience of being in high school. At Nova Pioneer we want our students to have a well-rounded high school adaptation – socially and academically. It is important for parents to remember that Grade 8 is not the defining year of your child’s high school career. Grade 8 at Nova Pioneer is a year of adjustment, transition and gradual
growth.

If your child is coming from a CAPS environment (State or IEB), it will take a while for your child to acclimatize to our Cambridge curriculum. But our school has multiple support structures in place to help your child make that curriculum transition a smooth one. All we ask is for parents to allow their children the space and time to progressively make that transition into a new curriculum. The support structures from the school and our educators are there, and the support from parents make a solid partnership that will positively shape the educational experience for our incoming Novaneers.

Transitioning to a Cambridge curriculum

Coming from CAPS and having to transition into a Cambridge curriculum can be challenging for students. It is a demanding curriculum that requires students to have a disciplined work ethic and a willingness to learn. However, our teachers are caring and skilled at supporting our students in their curriculum shift. The Cambridge curriculum is designed to teach students how to learn and to go on learning. Our role goes beyond helping students achieve good results, and it also goes beyond giving students approval for progression to university or employment – we give our students a curriculum that will bring lifelong success in the future. The Cambridge focus is on independent learning. Teachers are the supportive guides on the road to that independence.

Furthermore, our Cambridge curriculum sets up students for independence and allows them to lead. For instance, in the COVID19 climate, making the transition to online learning was not as challenging as it would have been, had we not equipped and trained our Novaneers to lead in their learning process. We train our students in high school to take the lead in the direction of their education. This mentality prepares them for the tertiary environment, which subsequently requires them to have the same
independence when learning. Our Novaneers essentially get a head start from our campuses. Nova Pioneer has resources readily available to make that transformation attainable.

School support system

Your children are not alone, there is always someone there to help with your child’s high school experience at Nova Pioneer. Additionally, there are programmes in place, teachers and coaches designated to support your child’s personal development on campus. Our coaching system provides a space for all students to have a voice in a supportive small group environment. This ensures that no one falls through the cracks. We want our Novaneers to succeed and thus, we encourage parents to enquire about the support structures available at our schools, to assist their children as they experience Grade 8.

We want to ensure that students perform well and we want to ensure that they feel supported and prepared to succeed at
our school. We believe that parents working together with the school forms a support system for our Grade 8 Novaneers. Our alumni are living proof that it is possible and achievable for your child to be successful at our school.

Culture principles

Our culture principles are what guide us at Nova Pioneer. We introduce them early to our Grade 8 students. We’ve found that these principles live in our students long after they leave us, and these principles will guide and support our Grade 8 students as they enter a new stage in their school career. We invite and encourage parents to embrace our culture principles and to look at applying them even at home – Joy of Learning, Greater Together, Always Growing, Servant Leadership, Solutions First and High
Expectations.

 

The way we teach at Nova Pioneer is very different from how other schools teach. Our mission is to develop generations of innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century. Therefore, we recruit teachers who not only have a passion for teaching but are lifelong students who are willing to be taught and are open to learning new ways of teaching.

A teacher at Nova Pioneer needs to embody our ‘Always Growing’ culture principle, which is: always seeking out difficult challenges, share and receive feedback as a gift and see every failure as an opportunity to grow. This particular culture principle is the foundation of a mindset of a Nova Pioneer teacher, and a requirement to being part of the Nova Pioneer teaching team.

Our teachers are Novaneers

Being a Novaneer is not only for our students but for our teachers as well. They value the growth of students, prioritise development, teaching and they care about students achieving their best personal and academic outcomes. Our students are equipped with educators who have gone through a rigorous process to be recruited and trained based on our culture, story, mission, and vision on how to help your child succeed in the 21st Century.

Our core teacher values

We look for teachers that deeply care about the future of students and have the passion to build up our students’ intrinsic potential. We look for teachers that respect and value the views of their students, who come from various backgrounds, whilst being the ultimate facilitator of knowledge in their classrooms. Nova Pioneer values teachers who are not only instructive but who also remember to have fun, by bringing an infectious and positive energy to everything that they do.

A Nova Pioneer teacher is passionate about teaching and making education in Africa great by growing its future leaders. It’s their entrepreneurial spirit of making things happen that allows our teachers to be creative and flex their innovation muscle by solving problems for their team and students. Our teachers have a growth mindset that consistently seeks new ways to do and see things, by collaborating with a team that believes in the joy of learning and high expectations.

Mapping out growth 

At Nova Pioneer, we are always invested in growing and constantly evolving to meet the needs of our students. We believe that we all have room to grow, at every level of the organisation. What that means, is that no matter what role someone is in, they have someone coaching and developing them to help them grow. 

What this looks like for teachers, comes in the form of weekly classroom observations and feedback meetings with their coach, the Dean. These sessions with the Dean allow teachers to focus on their growth areas that they are always working to improve on and master. Also, in these sessions teachers are affirmed on what they do well as educators, which helps reinforce best practices.

Each year, all Nova Pioneer teachers receive a Growth Map, which includes specific targeted areas for them to perform, in alignment with their role and job description. The metrics included in these Growth Maps align with each role’s biggest area of contribution to the success of the school, which for teachers, aligns with their student’s academic performance. 

The Growth Maps also measures teachers’ exhibition of our school’s Core Values and their overall performance as a Novaneer. These annual measures are helpful for teachers because they create opportunities for advancement, both within the classroom and in school leadership roles.

The first five years of your child’s life is critical, as this is the period in which early childhood development takes off. Parents can find it difficult to decide on when the best time is to send their child to school. No one wants to send their child to school prematurely, neither do they want to send them to school too late. 

One of the things parents need to know about school readiness is that it involves two types of indicators: an eagerness to learn and an enthusiasm for school. School readiness is thus a measure of how prepared your child is to succeed at school. Here are 5 key indicators that tell you if your child is ready for school:

 

Physical and Motor Development

If your child is able to crawl or walk, it means that they are getting ready to explore their physical environment. Parents can look out for gross motor development, which includes running, skipping and standing on one leg. Furthermore, parents can look out for fine motor development in their child. When your child is comfortable using a pair of scissors, successfully able to use zips and buttons and they are able to use cutlery, this is an indicator of school readiness. Moreover, visual as well as auditory development and your child’s ability to take care of themselves by being able to go to the toilet alone, is another strong indicator of school readiness.

 

Emotional and Social Development

A child who is emotionally well-adjusted has a significantly greater chance of early school success. Your child is most likely ready for school when they get along with their peers. They are ready for school when they can interact within a group, they show an interest in other children and they willing help others. Also, if your child can express feelings and needs, can sit still long enough to listen to a story and can concentrate on a task for a reasonable amount of time, they are most likely ready to be placed in a school.

 

Cognitive Development

Every parent knows that mental ability is essential in the cognitive development of a child. How a child thinks, makes independent decisions and figures things out for themselves is a good indicator of school readiness. It is the ability to take direction and following instructions that helps children navigate the world around them and that also encourages an interest to learning.

 

Language Development

A child is ready for school when they can express themselves through speaking and vocabulary as well as literacy and listening. Furthermore, they should be able to communicate effectively in their home language, be able to sequence or recite a story or a set of events comprehensibly, and identify similarities and differences between objects.

 

Emotional Development

Last but not least, your child is most likely ready for school when they show emotional maturity. When your child can reasonably control their emotions and handle separation well, that means they can handle being in a school setting with other children. Other emotional development indicators include confidence, independence and displays of being responsible. 

 

 

Sources: Help Me Grow

 

Feelings of discomfort in the lives of children today may be due to the stressful changes that have occurred since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a parent you may be wondering how to help your children deal with anxiety during lockdown.

The weight of the COVID-19 pandemic has been stress-inducing for many families. The confirmation of a Third Wave, and more school closures, may have increased the feelings of worry and fear once again. 

There are several strategies that parents can use to help children manage their stress levels and anxiety about COVID-19 and the Third Wave.

Here are some strategies to help children deal with anxiety at home:

 

Be understanding

If your child is struggling to get back into going to school mode, understand that your child is coping with the challenges of the prolonged pandemic differently from you. Develop an environment that is caring, encouraging and responds openly to children’s questions and how they feel. 

 

Provide structure and safety

Create a routine that gives children a sense of structure and safety as this helps them to develop a new sense of normality. Assist your child to follow their schedules and make learning playful by adding it to daily activities such as making a meal together or reading together. Another alternative is to join a parent support group to talk to other parents who are also experiencing similar issues to share ideas and strategies to get support.

 

Talk to your children

Always check on how your child is feeling and listen intently as it shows you acknowledge and validate how they feel. A parent can help their child manage their feelings of anxiety by sharing ways to cope when they feel anxious. Make them aware that it is normal for them to feel sad and stressed and that they can come to you for support. By providing reassurance, it helps a child to feel understood and cared for.