Schools Are Closed – How is Your Highly Sensitive Children Reacting?

All around the world schools are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Here in the Netherlands, schools closed on the 15th March. From next week primary schools will begin a phased reopening. This is not the news that some children want to hear. There are children who are now thriving because they are schooling in their home environment. And that will make the return to school much harder for some.

School and Highly Sensitive Children

Issues with school is a common topic in the Happy Sensitive Kids Community, and a popular theme on the Happy Sensitive Kids blog. Search ‘school’ on this blog and you will get a host of posts to read.

Many highly sensitive traits make the traditional school environment problematic for highly sensitive children.

This is often visible in the way children behave once they are home after a day in school.

How is Your Child Now That Schools Are Closed?

Now that many schools are closed you may find that your child is more relaxed about school work. You may find that they are able to focus more. You may notice they are generally happier.

My ten year old misses the social interaction, but loves the fact that his home environment is so quiet and he can do his school work in peace.

School closing may also have a negative impact on your child. My thirteen year old has sworn he will never complain about going to school again. He hates being cooped up doing online schooling. He misses the interaction with his classmates and his teachers. However, I do notice that he is much calmer because his bucket fills less easily without the school environment.

I see high boredom levels with my two younger sons whilst they are doing maths and language. I see that my youngest just wants to be able to tick tasks off a list as they are not engaging him and he makes mistakes because of it. Often school work that should in theory occupy my kids for two hours actually keeps them busy for half that time. I have had to be creative some days to fill their time.

A Chance to Understand Your Child Better

It’s a mixed bag for sure. However, this time schooling at home will give you a lot of insight into how your child carries out their school work.

You may find it easier to appraise what your child does miss from school, and what they really don’t. This information can certainly help you and your child’s teacher in the future.

What Happens When Schools Reopen?

As I mentioned, our primary school reopens its doors next week in a phased manner. It means that my sons will attend school for two and a half hours every day. Only half of their class will be present.

This phased, cautious return may benefit my highly sensitive boys as they ease back into school life.

What does worry me is that teachers will only teach the basics subjects; the hunger for knowledge will not be met for my youngest at least. The boys’ gifted class will not come together in the short term (and rightly so because of the risk of the virus spreading between schools).

Swings and roundabouts. Safety first. One day at a time.

But I do think the physical return to school will bring about its own set of challenges for parents of highly sensitive children.

Over to You

What do you notice about your child since schools closed? Does your child prefer schooling at home? What problems do you foresee when schools reopen?