{"id":12074,"date":"2020-08-11T09:23:18","date_gmt":"2020-08-11T16:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/btsadv.wpengine.com\/?p=12074"},"modified":"2020-08-11T09:23:22","modified_gmt":"2020-08-11T16:23:22","slug":"returning-to-school-in-a-virtual-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakthesilencedv.org\/?p=12074","title":{"rendered":"Returning to School in a Virtual World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Jenn Rockefeller<\/span><\/p>\n

Unprecedented times. That is a term so often heard in this midst of this global pandemic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Children today have to face returning to school in a virtual world. For many states, the return to school has begun this month. Many changes abound \u2013 school districts need to figure out logistics on how they are going to teach, when and if they will physically return to schools this fall and what safety measures will be taken.<\/span><\/p>\n

For children who have witnessed domestic violence, returning to school in a virtual world means being at home with one or both parents who are abusive. For many, school was an escape of sorts \u2013 a place they felt safe. Their support system was made up of their teachers and peers when they were physically at school. Now, children are isolated and face the reality that they now have a lack of support.<\/span><\/p>\n

How can we support children through this?<\/span><\/p>\n

My daughter has entered high school. She is a freshman. She had her sights set on joining the cross country team this fall, just like she did in the eighth grade. She won\u2019t get to experience that, nor will she experience what freshman year in high school is supposed to be like \u2013 lockers, changing classes, friends, cafeteria food, and walking the hallways. She recently told me that she was not looking forward to the start of school. A little bit of back and forth in the conversation, and I learned that she won\u2019t be with friends or have that in-person learning experience with teachers.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s what children need–the in-person experience. Right now, they are feeling isolated and alone. So how can we, as the healthy parent, help our children through this? How can we support them?<\/span><\/p>\n