Anxiety in the early days of school is common in children and teens

Guidelines for the psychological safety of students after two years of distance education

Older students and teens social anxiety is common.

Photography: Eric Arrasas

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) has set main guidelines that students’ families must observe to preserve the psychological safety of their children, after they return to school seats after two years of distance education, due to the conditions of “Corona”, stressing that mental health is no less important than health. She stressed that the ideal school day begins with a healthy breakfast.

In detail, the psychologist in the behavioral sciences wing of Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Dr. Nasser Muhammad Suleiman, confirmed that “despite the joy of many students at the start of a new school year, some of them may suffer from anxiety and tension, especially children in the early years of study, as the child moves away about his familiar home, which makes him feel safe, to go to a new environment, and deal with strangers to him, such as teachers and other children,” noting that anxiety in the early days of school is common for many children and adolescents in general, and in this period in particular, After many months of distance education.

He added: "Parents should prepare their children to go to nursery school or school, by talking about it, reading books, or watching children's programs that talk about the first school day, asking the child how he feels about it, and telling him that they will definitely come back to pick him up after the school day is over." Crying and clinging to parents is very expected and natural on the first day of school, and in this case it is recommended that parents be satisfied with a very short farewell to the children, with caution against the parents withdrawing without saying goodbye to the child, as this affects the child’s trust in his family.

He pointed out that older students and adolescents, social anxiety is common among them, and may cause physical symptoms such as headache, sweating, nausea and difficulty sleeping due to returning to school, and in this case parents can help their children by talking to them and listening to them without judging them, or their feelings, as Studies have shown that talking about fears contributes greatly to alleviating them.

For her part, the clinical nutritionist at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Eileen Habib Azer, advised to eat complex carbohydrates such as whole-bran brown bread, with a source of protein such as boiled eggs, chickpeas, beans or cheese, and it is preferable to add vegetables, such as cucumbers, tomatoes or lettuce to the meal, We must not forget the importance of eating milk or milk as a source of calcium, stressing the importance that the meal be healthy and integrated, while staying away from giving the child sweets or juices because they contain sugar, in addition to making sure to give him a light meal, such as fruit such as apples or dates, and encouraging children to drink Adequate amounts of water during the school day, and avoid soft drinks of all kinds and juices.

precautionary measures

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) stressed the importance of everyone’s commitment to the preventive and precautionary measures in force in the UAE, such as wearing a muzzle throughout the times of being in school, and during students’ movement to and from school, physical distancing, and washing hands constantly, and the same applies to parents and the authority teaching, and the need to teach students in the early stages, especially kindergartens, the importance of adhering to these procedures.

• A balanced diet is a foundation for physical and mental health.

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