Ken Danby Public School

Is your child struggling with attending school? We are here to help! Throughout the month of April we will be sharing tips and strategies with parents/guardians to help encourage regular school attendance. 

This week, we are going to focus on strategies around attitudes and beliefs – try some of these tips at home!

• Keep in mind that attendance issues can quickly escalate.  Parents/guardians need to intervene and reach out for support as early as possible before it becomes the norm.
• Keep the expectation in your home of attending school and staying all day.  Don’t give up. Even if your child is anxious about school, ensure the expectation of regular attendance doesn’t change.  Work with the issue, not around it.
• Talk to your child to find out what is behind them not wanting to go to school.  Anxiety can show up in a lot of ways and one of them can be not wanting to go to school. Encourage your child to talk back to their anxiety!  Tell themselves they can do it!
• Ask questions about your child’s worries about school.  Although you know your child well, try not to assume you know the answers.  Keep an open mind. Validate your child’s concerns.
• If your child is having difficulty with attendance try setting a goal with them such as if they attend for a certain amount of time, they can have a special treat or do a special activity.

For more information, please visit the UGDSB website: https://www.ugdsb.ca/parents/student-attendance-at-school-tips-and-strategies-for-families/

We are continuing to share information to help families support their child’s attendance at school. Below are some tips you can try that involve the routines and the environment at home.

• Practice consistent bedtime and morning routines with your child. 
• Parents can model the same routine at home, as it helps students stick to the routine of coming to school each day.
• Having a set schedule for sleep and nutrition is key to a good morning and feeling good about coming to school.
• Preparing for school at night so that the morning is less hectic can be helpful.  Organizing clothing, packing backpacks and including favourite foods can be reassuring.
• Putting out clothes and making lunch the night before can help get your child out the door in the morning.
• If your child does refuse to attend school, try having no screens/devices during the time when they are at home. Make staying home as boring as possible! Shutting down the home Internet can be helpful if this is a draw for your child to stay at home.
• Creating an environment conducive for improved sleep hygiene (e.g. dark room, quiet, sound machine, light in morning, consistent bed and wake times).
• Ensuring at least 30 minutes of screen-free time before bed and removing all electronics from bedrooms before bed can be helpful. 
• Limiting screen time before bed is key to winding-down and getting a great night’s sleep!

For more information, please visit the UGDSB website: https://www.ugdsb.ca/parents/student-attendance-at-school-tips-and-strategies-for-families/

 This week our tips for supporting your child’s attendance at school focuses on ways to involve the school. See below for some strategies you could try. 

• Know that there are supports in your child’s school.  Connect with them as soon as an issue starts. Connecting earlier is better than when your child has missed a lot of school.
• If your child wants to leave school, try to have them connect with a caring adult in the school first to see if things can be worked out before your child goes home.
• Reach out to your school Principal and/or Guidance department for help if your child is not coming to school.  Let’s talk!  There is no judgement!
• A welcoming school approach has proven to be quite effective. Ensure your child is familiar with their school Principal, Vice-Principal and other caring adults in the building.
• Talk to the school team about anything you are hearing might be difficult for your child at school.  School staff are always ready to help problem solve.
• Have a mental health plan created with your child and school staff and ensure there is a safe place to go in the school when your child may need some quiet time.
• If going into the classroom is hard – remember coming into the school building and meeting with a caring adult in a safe space is an important step in getting back to school.

For more information, please visit the UGDSB website: https://www.ugdsb.ca/parents/student-attendance-at-school-tips-and-strategies-for-families/