Preparing for back to school in 'new normal': making kids feel in control of change

Many parents are trying to decided on whether or not to have their child return to the classroom or do remote learning.

ON CAM REPORTER AS COVID-19CASES ARE STILL ON RISE HERE INARIZONA MANY PARENTS ARESTUCK BETWEEN HAVING THEIRCHILD DO REMOTE LEARNING ORSENDING THEM BACK TO SCHOOL.

ADECISION ONE THERAPIST SAYSCAN ONLY BE MADE BY EACHINDIVIDUAL PARENT.

JODI AMAN /FAMILY THERAPIST IT WOULD BEREALLY IMPORTANT FOR PARENTSTO FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLEWITH THE DECISION THAT THEY'REMAKING AND GETTING ALL THEINFORMATION THEY CAN.

FAMILYTHERAPIST JODI AMAN SAYS IT'SABOUT EMPOWERING PARENTS TOFEEL CONTROL OVER THEIRDECISION.

WHEN IT FEELS LIKE'THERE IS NO CHOICE' SHESAYS WE ALWAYS HAVE THEPOWER TO MAKE ONE.

JODI AMAN /FAMILY THERAPIST WE ARE HIGHLYADAPTIVELY.

WE CAN FIGURE THISOUT.

IF IT'S SOMETHING YOUREALLY DON'T WANT TO DO, LIKESEND YOUR KID BACK TO SCHOOLTHEN WE COULD ADAPT AND TRY TOFIND A WORK AROUND.

AMAN SAYSIT'S IMPORTANT TO ALLOW KIDSTO HAVE A VOICE IN THEDECISION.

MANY OF THEM MAY NOTUNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF THE'NEW NORMAL' AT SCHOOL SOAMAN SAYS PARENTS NEED TOALLOW THEM TO ASK QUESTIONS.JODI AMAN / FAMILY THERAPISTWE REALLY WANT THEM TO FOCUSON WHAT THEY HAVE CONTROL OVERBECAUSE THAT IS ACTUALLY MUCHGREATER, IT IS MUCH MOREIMPORTANT TO HAPPINESS INLIFE.

AMAN SAYS WHEN A CHILDLOSES CONTROL IT CAN CAUSEBEHAVIOR ISSUES LIKE BULLYING.JODI AMAN / FAMILY THERAPIST IWOULD GO OVER THE PROTOCOL OFWHAT TO DO IF SOMEBODY ISBULLYING YOU BECAUSE WHENPEOPLE FEEL REALLY OUT OFCONTROL, THEY TRY TO GET POWEROVER OTHER PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHYSHE SAYS IT'S THE JOB OFPARENTS AND TEACHERS TO CHECKON THE STUDENTS AS THEYADJUST TO LESS SOCIALINTERACTION MORE MASKS ANDDISTANCE WHILE TRYING TOSTAY ON TRACK WITH SCHOOL.JODI AMAN / FAMILY THERAPISTBECAUSE EVE N IF THEY GO BACKTO SCHOOL, THERE IS STILL LESSOF THAT STIMULATION THAT THEYWERE HAVING BEFORE.

SO KIDSNEED A ROUTINE, BUT THEY NEEDSOME NOVELTY AND THEY NEED ASENSE OF PURPOSE.

LIKE SOMEPROJECT, SOME GOAL THAT YOU'REWORKING TOWARDS TOGETHER.

ONCAM REPORTER GOVERNOR DOUGDUCEY HAS MADE IT UP TO EACHDISTRICT TO DECIDE WHEN THEYWANT TO START IN PERSONLEARNING.

BUT MANY DISTRICTSWILL BE STARTING REMOTELEARNING IN THE BEGINNING ONAUGUST.

VV KGUN9 OYS.AND ANOTHER USUAL TOOL PARENTSARE USING TO MAKE THATDECISION--LOOKING AT THE DATA.