As we head towards the one-year anniversary of when we were first plunged into a state of lockdown, it can be overwhelming when considering the events that have happened in the last year. Whether you are an adult or a child, it has been a tumultuous experience for us all.  

While the pandemic’s impact can be felt in numerous ways, it has undoubtedly not discriminated in who it has targeted. Indeed, we can say that the pandemic has been experienced both directly and indirectly in the last twelve months or so.  

While those who work in the business world have been able to move their practices online and continue as usual, the same cannot be said for other sectors that make up our economy.  

Not to mention, education has been impacted in ways that have never been seen before. Teachers had to create new lesson plans for virtual classrooms seemingly overnight, and the last year has not gone without its hiccups. This would subsequently have had some impact on your child and their education.  

If you have found that your child might be struggling a little bit to manage their schoolwork, or you are simply a concerned parent who wants to do what they can to assist their child with managing their emotions and feelings during the pandemic, then you are in the right place. 

We have compiled a list of ways below, detailing what you can do to help your child for the duration of the pandemic.  


Emotional Turmoil

 Young Minds have estimated that 67 per cent of young people have experienced some sort of adversities with their mental health due to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. While we can understand and recognise that the pandemic has impacted many people’s mental health and wellbeing, there have been impacts on the younger generations that others have not experienced. It can be challenging to know how to encourage a young person in your household to talk openly about their emotions. Not to mention, when you have a young child as well — dealing with emotions, even as a grown-up, can be challenging. That being the case, there are things that you can do to assist in this particular issue and when wanting to get your child to recognise and handle their emotions. Whether you choose to make a soothing box full of their favourite things or set aside some time each day to talk about how they are feeling, the choice is entirely up to you. Know that making small changes such as these are sure to make a difference to how your child manages their emotions both during the pandemic and beyond.

Juggling Schoolwork and Extracurricular Activities

While we can recognise that many extracurricular and after-school activities may not be going ahead as of late, there may be some school boards who have tried to keep them going as best as possible, either through social distancing or virtually. Keeping up with hobbies and activities such as these are a great way of promoting a sense of normality when it feels anything but that. The same could be said for schoolwork. Encouraging your child to go about their school day as they usually would, even while studying from home, can promote a daily rhythm that they are accustomed to. The importance behind this will be considered more below. That being the case, it is not easy, both for you encouraging them to do their work and for the child themselves. With more distractions than they are used to and with reduced guidance, it can undoubtedly be challenging. None more so than those with any exams coming up. If you have decided to send your primary-age child to a grammar school this September, you are most likely preparing them to sit their 11+ test. This can be challenging at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic. Test Teach provides families like yourself with support and guidance in getting ready for this critical test. If you are in this particular position, consider this service for 11 plus online learning, and go forth with confidence.

Maintaining Routine

As mentioned briefly before, supporting your child’s day-to-day routine is essential, for it can make a drastic difference to their emotional and mental wellbeing. Unbeknown to many, but routines in a child’s life are vital towards their overall development. Children feel safe and secure when they have a consistent pattern in their lives, whether this is a regular mealtime, bedtime, and more. By making a conscious effort to maintain these types of routine in your child’s life during the pandemic, you are doing your utmost to ensure that their development is not being harmed in any way. Not to mention, you will be upholding your responsibility as a parent of making sure that they are getting enough nutrients and sleep to go about their day-to-day routine.

Anxiety About Heading Back to School

With schools reopening across the country for the first time since before the Christmas break, we can understand if your child is experiencing feelings of anxiety about transitioning again to in-person teaching. Reassuring them that their emotions are normal and that there is nothing wrong with feeling that way is an excellent place to start. As mentioned previously, allowing your child a safe space at home to discuss their feelings is an ideal way of recognising and handling emotions. Reminding them of the fun memories, they have with classmates, and their teachers and what memories they will make moving forward is another excellent way of building their confidence about returning to the classroom. While it has certainly not been easy on any of us throughout the pandemic, your child’s life is sure to have been impacted in various ways. By reassuring them that this is not forever and that fingers crossed, this is the last time they have to be apart from their friends for a prolonged amount of time, you can rest easy that they are as prepared as they can be for transitioning back to school once more.

While it has not been easy for your child to adapt, it has also been challenging for you as a parent to take on the extra role as a teacher while juggling your day-to-day work, life, and other related responsibilities. This has undoubtedly been the case, but you and your child have managed this wonderfully, so you should be proud of both your efforts during what has been the most challenging time of our lives.

These are but some of the obstacles that you may well have to overcome with your child, but there are ways that you can do just that. We hope that this list has been helpful and insightful, mainly if you were somewhat unsure about where to start and how best to address any issues that may have cropped up.

It should be remembered that if anyone is going to know their child the best during an emotionally testing time, such as now, it is you as their parent. Recognising behaviours and things that are said and working through them with your child will help you help them. Just know that anything that you do to help your child is sure to make a world of difference to how they are feeling.