Schools across central Kentucky are slowly opening after a weeks-long break period caused by ice on the roads.
That long break can make it difficult for children to readjust to the classroom, specifically those with learning disorders.
Long breaks during the school year can be detrimental for students with anxiety and depression. That’s because of less socializing and breaks in their routines. It can also be a struggle for children with learning disorders.
“Not all kids are able to engage as effectively with online learning or NTI packets, so it's going to really exacerbate — just like we saw in COVID — it's really going to exacerbate existing discrepancies among children,” said Michelle Martel, chair of the University of Kentucky’s psychology department.
The long time off can make for a difficult readjustment period.
“Children that already struggle with learning because they have a learning disorder, for example, or because they have ADHD or some other kind of behavior problem, are going to be differentially, negatively impacted by this time off and have a harder time coming back in,” she said.
The break can also be a point of stress for parents, who are juggling their usual work responsibilities with childcare as they budget for extra food and other needs.
“I imagine that that's particularly true for households where income is lower and they're less able to deal with potential loss in income, or less likely to be able to be flexible with their schedule,” Martel said.
Martel recommends kids get plenty of sleep and reorient their schedules as they ease their way back into the classroom.
She also recommends anyone struggling to reach out to a therapist or a telehealth hotline.
