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Effect of Pandemic

Homebird

Hi. My son has always struggled with understanding and other things in school, but up until the first lockdown when he was in year 7 he managed to get there. Homework has always been a challenge.

When lockdown started and all the work was at home and lots of reading and understanding, until later there were some live lessons, it was often too much. During the first lockdown and summer even going outdoors was a challenge. So when they returned to school going in was often for parts of days, sometimes whole days and other days it was too much.

As time went on he gradually became more confident going out, but getting into school most days has been a challenge for him. When he makes it I often sense the struggle he goes through to get there.

I know I will never know the answer, but I wonder if things would have been any easier now without that time not in school. I think for his wellbeing the time at home helped.

I would be interested to hear of other people's experiences.

Parents

  • I guess much depends on whether the issue is really going out or going to school and whichever it is which aspect(s) are bothering him.

    I hated my middle school and dreaded every day - but then I was bullied. No one would have noticed or cared if I "struggled to go in".  I was going and that was that.  I had to drag myself there and sit in fear all day. The problem there clearly was the bullies!  That stopped being a problem when I went to high school.  Mind you, I kicked up a storm with my parents NOT to go to the same school the local bullies were going to.

    As for the pandemic, well, even at 56 I've much preferred the relief from the commute on buses with all that entails sensorily for 4 hours upwards a day (gives me so much energy and time back), the social drain to some extent and the relief from the fear of catching COVID.  Post pandemic, I'm still clinging on to working from home as the bus route have changed and are worse and the fear of COVID is still high.  It's not that I don't want to see my colleagues, it's just the business of getting to work and the risks are altogether too much.  I think I'd struggle to work now if I had to physically go in much.

    I think the school need to work with you to try and identify what's making him reluctant and then see what can be done to mitigate those things.

Reply

  • I guess much depends on whether the issue is really going out or going to school and whichever it is which aspect(s) are bothering him.

    I hated my middle school and dreaded every day - but then I was bullied. No one would have noticed or cared if I "struggled to go in".  I was going and that was that.  I had to drag myself there and sit in fear all day. The problem there clearly was the bullies!  That stopped being a problem when I went to high school.  Mind you, I kicked up a storm with my parents NOT to go to the same school the local bullies were going to.

    As for the pandemic, well, even at 56 I've much preferred the relief from the commute on buses with all that entails sensorily for 4 hours upwards a day (gives me so much energy and time back), the social drain to some extent and the relief from the fear of catching COVID.  Post pandemic, I'm still clinging on to working from home as the bus route have changed and are worse and the fear of COVID is still high.  It's not that I don't want to see my colleagues, it's just the business of getting to work and the risks are altogether too much.  I think I'd struggle to work now if I had to physically go in much.

    I think the school need to work with you to try and identify what's making him reluctant and then see what can be done to mitigate those things.

Children
  • in reply to Dawn

    Thank you for your reply. School are working with us and have a good SENCO. I guess my reason for the post was me wondering if it is the problems as an autistic have been made worse by the pandemic or if things would have been similar without.

    I agree with you about the personal effect of the pandemic. Before it started I had got particularly stressed with work and was off sick when lockdown started. I haven't been on a bus since and now work permanently from home. It has helped me in so many ways. I limit my social contact now. I had Covid 3 months ago and would rather not get it again, not only the time taken to get over it, but also because my son struggles to cope when we are unwell.