School reopened on 21 March, marking the start of a new term for the kids. Amidst the high number of COVID-19 cases, and after such a long hiatus from school, it isn’t an easy decision for many parents when it comes to sending their little ones back out there.
Motherhood Story talks to some mummies about this, as they share their stories of having their children back in school. Without further ado, let’s hear it from them, shall we?
Eva Tan: A Full-Time Working Mother of Five, From Age 10 to 18
Please share with us your children’s experience in this first week of going back to school.
As a mum, I was very nervous about letting my children back to school. But then again, we are not able to avoid the situation much longer. Thus, I agreed to it with the hope that everything will be fine.
Right after the first day of school, my daughter came home feeling very happy to be able to meet up with her friends again, and to communicate face to face. It feels to me like I have made the right choice, although much prayer is needed for them to stay safe!
Sports and co-curricular activities that may include school field trips and gatherings are also resuming in school, and this may mean that children will be in close contact during these activities. What are some precautionary measures you have in place to protect your children and family?
In this regard, I’m not quite comfortable to let them participate. So, I will most likely get my kids to request for non-participation in these activities. If needed, I will follow up with a letter to their school. It is difficult to take precautions under such circumstances, so I feel this is the best way—to stay away.
Shereene S: A Mother of a 10-Year-Old Girl
Please share with us your child’s experience in this first week of going back to school.
She was extremely happy to be back in school and entering a new primary level, with new subjects to learn. It was good to return to being a ‘normal’ student. However, classes stopped after one case in school and it’s back to online classes for now.
After 2 years of having her stay home, do you feel any anxiety (or relief) in letting her resume a life outside of home?
Of course, anxious and worried. However, I’ve put my faith in her educators and thankfully, they have proven to be very responsible in ensuring SOPs were followed by students (and parents). A little peace of mind to send her back to school. As I work from home, I am also very much relieved about having her back in school. The house is quiet, I can work without any interruptions.
Evelyne Mokhtar: A Work-From-Home Mummy of Two, Ages 8 and 13
Please share with us your children’s experience in this first week of going back to school.
My son was very excited yet nervous about being physically back at school as he was changed to a different class, and most of his friends were not going to the same class as him.
Since half of the last year, they were schooling from home. Hence, most of the teachers do not know the students even though it is his second year in the school. So, it’s like going to Standard 1 again for most of these Standard 2 students.
The good thing is, he is confident with knowing his SOP, and the teachers are quite strict with the SOPs.
As for my daughter who is in Form 1, though it is online lessons for the first two weeks of their orientation, she is very happy with the school’s schedule and arrangements. She is also super excited to know that she has an option to choose French for one of her subjects. As a parent, I’m well impressed with the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan arrangements and classes offered.
How do you prepare your children for life in school and for them to catch up on school work?
Since COVID-19 has changed the schooling ‘system’ most of last year, I have tried a few ways to make sure my kids are not bored with online schooling and the lack of face-to-face interactions.
It was trial and error—the first was to have study groups online with their friends of the same age. That didn’t work out too well! I also tried making them do their class work outdoors (at the porch) but it was too difficult for them to concentrate.
Lastly, I prepared a time table where I incorporated daily life activities into the school subjects. For example:
For English, they do storytelling by acting out a simple story line, and they have to use two bombastic words, and 3 new words in each story.
For Maths, they were required to share with me their budget breakdowns. They get RM10 for the week and for each chore that they complete, they get additional pocket money. Then they decide their planned purchases with the accounting breakdown.
For Science, I have an ‘invention hour’ whereby they are free to invent anything and everything from anything in the house. The coolest invention for me was an auto cat food dispenser! My son put a stopper in the existing food container, which he then put on top of the cat’s bowl. And my cat will just have to use its paws to pull the stopper to dispense food.
Marini Arumugam: A Mother of Two, Ages 10 and 12
Please share with us your children’s experience in this first week of going back to school.
It was exciting to have my kids return to school, particularly for my eldest who is in Standard 6. Both my kids returned to school when school reopened last October. So, the return in the new school year was seamless. My son was eager to be with his friends and return to a routine where he could interact with his teachers face-to-face.
What are the biggest reasons that encourage you or your children to return to school?
The children were severely impacted by the lockdown. Both my husband and I knew that it was important for our children to return to school and have that social connection with their peers. In addition, school is such a large part of their lives. So returning to school meant some return to normalcy for both of them.
Carmen Then: A Mother of Three, From Age 4 to 10
Please share with us your child’s experience in this first week of going back to school.
Caitlin (10 years old) has been going back to school since the start of 2022, so she’s quite familiar with all the SOPs. As she’s going to school on a rotational basis, her first week of school has been a breeze because there’s only 18 pupils in her class.
On Wednesday, 10 out of 18 students were given a box of COVID-19 test kit each, to be done at home. The test result was to be submitted to her teacher the day after. Her school has also started PJ (Pendidikan Jasmani) classes and she enjoyed playing with her friends in the field.
Does Caitlin feel anxious about being back in school? If so, how do you help her cope with it?
After the long break, she’s a little anxious about going back to school, mainly because she will be in Standard 4 and the classroom will be in a different building. As she’s considered new to the school (just moved there in 2021 and for most of the time it was only online classes) and she’s not very familiar with the class location.
Unfortunately, due to the strict SOPs, I’m not allowed to bring her into the school compound. So, I’ve asked for a map of the school and showed her the way to her class from the drop-off point. That eased her concerns about being lost in school.
Here’s a big cheer to all the kids out there who have resumed some form of normalcy by being back in school and having their much-missed interaction with friends. Have a good time, kids, and stay safe!
For more insightful stories and children care tips, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!