Starting March 1, the government has lifted the mask mandate, allowing students to choose whether or not to wear masks to school. Campus life is gradually returning to normal. However, after three years of wearing masks, students may find it difficult to adjust to being mask-free, which could lead to emotional stress and social anxiety. How can parents help their children adapt and reintegrate into post-pandemic school life? Here are three suggestions to help children adjust early and establish a positive school experience.
- Allow Sufficient Time for Adjustment
Over the past three years, parents have often emphasized the importance of wearing masks to their children. As a result, children might feel confused or struggle to adapt to life without masks during this transition. Parents should patiently explain the current situation and discuss the reasons for and against wearing masks, encouraging children to think and decide in which situations they might want to wear one. Developing habits and changing mindsets take time, so parents can provide ample time for their children to adjust and learn to respect others' choices in the process.
Having been accustomed to masks for over three years, the first time children remove their masks in front of classmates may cause feelings of insecurity, such as worrying excessively about getting sick, anxiety about their appearance, or difficulty in hiding emotions and expressions. Parents should be mentally prepared for their children to exhibit unusual behaviors, like feeling very shy in social situations when they take off their masks. To help, parents can build their children's confidence in everyday life, such as inviting them to take mask-free photos during outdoor activities, allowing them to get used to showing their faces in public.
- Reestablish Hygiene Etiquette and Maintain Good Habits
Children likely understand that wearing masks is an effective way to prevent disease transmission. However, now that they are no longer required to wear masks, they might become lax about personal hygiene, making them more susceptible to respiratory infections. Therefore, parents need to reestablish hygiene etiquette for their children, such as covering their mouths and noses with tissues when sneezing and disposing of used tissues immediately in the trash instead of leaving them lying around. Additionally, if they spray saliva while speaking, children should be taught to apologize to those nearby. In short, even as society returns to normal, children must remember that germs and viruses are everywhere and should maintain good hygiene habits to stay healthy.
- Parents Set an Example and Teach Children to Respect Others' Choices
Every family has its own views and preferences; regardless of whether others choose to wear masks, their decisions should be respected. Parents can guide their children to understand that everyone has different considerations and teach them to respect others' choices. Parents should also instruct their children not to exclude classmates who are "different" from themselves but to build friendships with one another and become good friends.
In addition to the changes in social patterns brought about by the pandemic and its easing, adolescents face various physiological and psychological changes at different stages of growth, leading to feelings of pressure and confusion. If children experience emotional distress, how can parents walk alongside them? Parent Academy provides articles on parenting and growth challenges, helping parents assist their children in enhancing self-awareness, mastering emotional control, and developing problem-solving skills, thus helping them navigate negative emotions and explore more possibilities in life!