NAVIGATING BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHALLENGES...Some content provided under license. 2 •Discuss impact of the pandemic on the back-to-school transition •Get tips that can help you and your

NAVIGATING

BACK-TO-SCHOOL

CHALLENGES

Presented by

Cigna Employee Assistance Program

SEMINAR GOALS

2Use and distribution limited solely to authorized personnel. © 2020 Cigna. Some content provided under license.

• Discuss impact of the pandemic on the back-to-school transition

• Get tips that can help you and your child navigate with resilience

• Review strategies for managing various learning scenarios

• Understand how stress affects children and when to get more help

• Know the benefits of your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

BACK-TO-SCHOOL STRESSORS

All the “normal” jitters, plus…

• Concerns about safety

• Worries about falling behind

• Scheduling challenges

• Uncertainty about the future

Use and distribution limited solely to authorized personnel. © 2020 Cigna. Some content provided under license. 3

NAVIGATING WITH RESILIENCE: MASTERING EMOTIONAL ABCS

4

Ambiguity

Uncertainty makes us

uncomfortable; practice

accepting not knowing.

Use and distribution limited solely to authorized personnel. © 2020 Cigna. Some content provided under license.

“Bumps”

Recognize that you can’t

control all outcomes;

permit imperfection.

Change

Remember how you’ve

managed in the past, but

try to stay in the present.

NAVIGATING WITH RESILIENCE: PREPARATION

5

Practical and supportive

• Begin shifting routines,

including sleep schedules,

into school mode

• Talk about school – a lot

• Point out the positives

• Acknowledge worries

but express confidence


Kids look to us for cues on how they should think, feel, and react to a situation.

Try to keep calm, confident, and positive, even if that’s not exactly how you feel.

CLASSROOM LEARNING

6

CHALLENGES

• Safety concerns

• Upended norms

• Quarantine impacts

STRATEGIES

• Establish good, open communication with

teacher, administration, counselor, nurse

• Prepare your child for how the school / staff

will look and what might feel different

• Talk about and practice hygiene safety

in an empowering way


What your child

needs most…

To feel safe, secure,

and ready to learn.

DISTANCED LEARNING


CHALLENGES

• Technology

• Focus and motivation

• Feeling isolated

STRATEGIES

• Get technology resources set up in advance

• Design a predictable, but varied, day

• Build in classic motivators: goal-setting,

accountability, incentives, and fun!

• Consider “safe” ways to interact with friends

What your child

needs most…

Tools and an

environment that

supports learning.

BLENDED OR HYBRID LEARNING


CHALLENGES

• Disrupted routines

• Scheduling and logistics

• All previously cited challenges

STRATEGIES

• Talk positively about both methods

• Use bridging routines for consistency

• Be prepared for disruption in friendships

• Call in reinforcements

What your child

needs most…

What your child

needs most…

Help navigating a

changing structure.

THE PARENTING BALANCING ACT

9

Parent, employee, teacher

• Talk with your manager and

explore all flexibilities now

• Get up to speed on resources

and options for support

• Get everyone organized

• Expect and encourage your

child to “own” their learning


As much as you are able, have back-up plans for your back-up plans.

BE AWARE OF AND ADDRESS YOUR CHILD’S STRESS


Children are naturally resilient, but…

• Check in casually; be available

• Normalize difficult feelings

• Share ways to de-stress

• Be aware of impact of stress

• Watch for cues that it’s overwhelming

Pre-schoolers

Thumb-sucking, bedwetting, sleep

disturbances clinging to parents,

loss of appetite, fear of the dark,

regression in behavior, withdrawal

Elementary-age

Irritability, aggressiveness,

clinginess, nightmares, school

avoidance, poor concentration,

withdrawal from activities and friends

Teens

Sleeping and eating disturbances,

agitation, increase in conflicts,

physical complaints, delinquent

behavior, poor concentration

(National Association of School Psychologists, 2020)

FINDING OUR WAY IN THIS UNCHARTED TERRITORY


• Remind yourself that

“everyday” learning counts

• Manage your own stress

• Be patient with yourself

and with your child

• Know it won’t last forever

BENEFITS OF THE EAP

12

• Face-to-face sessions

• Confidential

• Prepaid

• Unlimited telephonic consultation

• Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Household benefit

• Work/life support such as

elder care, child care and pet care

• Convenience services

• Financial services

• Legal services

Benefits vary by employer. Please check with your HR for your specific EAP benefits.


REFERENCES

Caissa Public Strategy. (2020). Parents’ concerns about returning to school since COVID-19: A

nationwide poll of K-12 parents. Retrieved from https://www.werecruitstudents.com/post/parents-

concerns-about-returning-to-schoolsince-covid-19

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2018). Physical activity facts. Retrieved from

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm

National Association of School Psychologists. (2020). Helping children cope with changes resulting

from COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-

and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/helping-children-cope-with-

changes-resulting-from-covid-19

The Education Trust. (2020). Parents overwhelmingly concerned their children are falling behind

during school closures. Retrieved from https://edtrust.org/parents-overwhelmingly-concerned-their-

children-are-falling-behind-during-school-closures/

Weir, K. (2017). Maximizing children’s resilience. Monitor on Psychology (48) 8. Retrieved from

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/09/cover-resilience

Use and distribution limited solely to authorized personnel. © 2020 Cigna. Some content provided under license. 13

https://www.werecruitstudents.com/post/parents-concerns-about-returning-to-schoolsince-covid-19

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/helping-children-cope-with-changes-resulting-from-covid-19

https://edtrust.org/parents-overwhelmingly-concerned-their-children-are-falling-behind-during-school-closures/

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/09/cover-resilience

This material is provided by Cigna for informational/educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical/clinical

advice. Only a health care professional can make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment plan. For more

information about your behavioral health coverage, you can call the customer service or the behavioral health

telephone number listed on your health care identification card.

All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation,

including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna

Behavioral Health, Inc., and HMO or service company subsidiaries of Cigna Health Corporation. The Cigna name,

logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. All pictures are used for illustrative

purposes only.

881282 07/20 © 2020 Cigna. Some content provided under license.

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NAVIGATING BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHALLENGES...Some content provided under license. 2 •Discuss impact of the pandemic on the back-to-school transition •Get tips that can help you and your