8 year old worried about going back to school.

[Whydididothatfuckingthing]

Hi,

Anyone else’s child really worried about going back to school? My 8 year old has ASD he’s not been sleeping the past week or so and is really worried about going back 🙁.
He’s not scared about the virus just the work I think, he does struggle socially as well and tbh has been so much more relaxed during lockdown.

My 9 yo is similar. A few nights ago he was struggling to sleep so when I went up to bed, I left him with gentle yoga music on the TV and the fish tank light and he settled quickly after that. He has dyslexia and dyspraxia in the mix too so school has challenges at every angle.

I've reminded him that everyone else has been off for 5.5 months too so it will be strange for everyone. He'll also still have more time at home than usual as most of our extras still aren't starting up yet.

Thanks for replying, sorry to hear your son is worried too.
Despite his asd he’s always slept really well, so it’s really getting to him, he knows all but keyworker children have been off too. I think he’s worried he’s forgotten everything he’s learnt this past year. He’s also anxious because he has to enter through the gates by himself.
I’ll keep reassuring him, I think we are in for a couple More of bad nights sleep.
Thanks again.

I think that September is quite an anxious month for some children each year, this year must be exacerbated if they haven’t been in school since March. I can imagine that would make it even more difficult. Hopefully once they’ve been back a few days it will settle. Be as positive as you can and supportive, tell him to come to you if he has anything he wants to chat about. Good luck x

Oh my children too! One possibly looking at a diagnosis at some point!

I am really sympathetic op and I’m hoping they will find things better once they are a few weeks in

Thanks Eeyore - I’m trying to reassure him, he just keeps bursting into tears today. I’m not mentioning school now (Unless he does) but he’s fully aware he goes back.

Thanks Onceupon - sorry to hear yours are worried too 🙁
It’s so hard - he’s been much more chilled during lockdown. It’s making me wish I could homeschool him but I need to go to work. Plus I think his it would be even more detrimental for his social skills - just hoping he’s more relaxed after a couple of days back.

@Whydididothatfuckingthing Your last post could be about one of my DC. Also autistic, thinks that he's forgotten everything and worried that his friends won't be his friends anymore. He's going to Y6 but I wish I could hold his hand through the first day as when he was a toddler. When is your DS going back? Mine is in on Thursday and I've asked the parent support worker if he (with me) can have a walk around the school to remind him and to see any procedures/settings that might be different.

My other DC, also autistic, goes to a very small child-led school and they seem to be much more prepared for the turmoil this is bound to cause our children. I wish mainstream schools could have that same consideration for how they are feeling.

Yes my DS is very worried. He is going into year 3 so is worried about what juniors will be like, will it be hard etc.
He's not keen on school at all, every new term we have tears and anxiety so this one is much worse.
During lockdown me and DH have wondered whether he has some SEN, which is something we will definitely be discussing with his new teacher. While in infants he was in a class of reception, year 1 and year 2 all together and is a quiet boy so think he was a little overlooked (for example, reports and parents evenings very basic, teacher could have been talking about any child)
Hoping new class and new teacher , who seems lovely, will be a good new start for him

My 8 year old too - also some SEN. Usually a great sleeper but can’t get to sleep atm as he’s becoming anxious. Plus some of his other worries that had gone the last few months have started reappearing.

I think for him it’s the fact that things will be even more different ( so the unknown I guess, he is very self conscious about getting things ‘wrong’) and then definitely social anxiety too. We met up with 2 of his class mates today briefly and that seems to have helped.

He was actually back in keyworker for a few weeks - smaller classes, mixed age groups and less intense and it’s the first time he’s ever been happy to go to school. .

My dd was initially really missing school and desperate to go back. Now she's a bit anxious and says she doesn't want to go. She's not worried about covid...I think its just been so long now that school feels very unfamiliar now.

My asd ds is going into year 3. He's scared about catching corona, forgetting the new school rules and getting told off and the continual worry of the work especially writing.

It's awful to see him like this and to hear of this affecting other kids who should be having the time of their lives as little ones.

@Whydididothatfuckingthing Thank you did the sympathy- it’s so hard isn’t it? I haven’t slept properly in days and I feel so sad when they cry.

Also considered home schooling as dc much happier but need to work and think it would deskill both dc socially