This shift back to normal might feel overwhelming and even a bit scary for a lot of kids , and they ’ ll need extra support over the coming months from those who love them .
The past year and a half was a long one for us all , but from a child ’ s perspective , it feels much longer . Children grow and change at such a rapid rate , and a long quarantine period such as this has had an untold impact on their development . I suspect we will be learning about the effects for years to come . Their lives were turned topsy turvy , their peer relationships hit hard , their academics knocked around , and family life likely impacted as well . To expect them to flip the switch back to normal is asking too much . While we adults endured it , our children grew up in the middle of it .
Our kids are likely feeling a lot of swirling and conflicting emotions about this “ return to normal .” They may be happy about seeing their friends again and worried if the relationships may feel weird now . They might be excited to get back into the normal routine at school and worried that they ’ ve fallen behind academically . They could feel excited to rejoin their sports teams and anxious about the busy schedule to come . These conflicting emotions can be confusing , and they may wonder if they ’ re alone in feeling this way .
The children who struggle with social anxiety and other mental illnesses may notice a rise in symptoms now that they ’ re expected to face their peers and teachers daily . In our rush to return to normal , we can ’ t forget about kids like these who maybe aren ’ t as ready as we are to flip life around again . And for those kids who thrived in a slower-paced world - the introverted kids , the sensitive ones , the quiet souls who did well with online learning , enjoyed sleeping in , and could breathe easier with the comfort of family surrounding them more often , they have something to say , too .
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