Prolonged school absences: How to help your high schooler keep up their learning with Alloprof

You should contact your child’s school as soon as you obtain a medical note recommending their absence. Their school team will explain the protocol to follow in this situation, and inform you of any activities, projects, assignments, and tests your child will be expected to complete. All this will depend on several factors: your child’s grade level, their health condition, whether or not they need to be hospitalized, and the duration of their absence.

When your child is feeling up to it, you can look into the possibility of organizing a visit from their best friend to boost their spirits and break their isolation. If they want to have a short video call with their classmates, you can suggest it to their teachers.

A long absence from school can significantly affect your teen’s life. Adjusting to new habits takes time and a lot of patience, so they may feel more stressed than usual. To help, you can encourage your teen to build new routines. Giving them responsibilities, even small ones, can also help keep their spirits up and maintain their self-esteem. Here are some ideas to try:

• Encourage them to set and stick to a study routine that works for them
• Create a suitable workspace that is free of distractions
• Invite them to explore educational tech tools like Alloprof’s concept sheets, exercises, and videos
• Encourage them to use their school agenda or any other time management tool to organize their tasks
• Schedule breaks so they can rest and have fun

Above all, be open and supportive if your teen seems unsure about this new routine. At first, keeping up with their schoolwork while also focusing on their recovery may seem daunting. Over time, however, they will find a balance.

Diving into a good book is a wonderful escape, especially in times of illness. Among other benefits, it calms the mind and helps manage boredom. In addition, reading makes it easier to retain new information. To help your child get the most out of reading during their absence from school, you can do the following:

• Ask your teen what books they want to read. You can probably find them at your public library. Some libraries also let you borrow or download digital books and comics. 
• Borrow books and comics from the hospital library.
• Find books related to what your teen is learning in school, or look for titles that are popular in their age group.
• Read the same novel as your child and share your opinions on it.
• Try using these reading comprehension question cards to stimulate discussion with your teen.
• Leave out books, comics, and magazines for your teen so they have plenty of reading material to choose from, even in your absence.
• Etc.

In these extraordinary circumstances, nothing matters more than your teen’s health and well-being. Learning to let go is key: aim to celebrate your child’s daily efforts and achievements, however small they may seem.

Being away from school for so long is a major event in your teen’s life, which is why this time should be filled with as many happy memories as possible. They may be anxious at the thought of falling behind their classmates; all the more reason to rethink conventional learning strategies and focus on making school fun.

You can use our wide range of services, which are always free of charge, to support your teen and help them learn at their own pace. For example:

• Our games and exercises allow students to practise concepts online and receive feedback.
• We have numerous concept sheets that cover essential material.
• Our interactive Crash Lessons (French only), concise video tutorials, provide an overview of key topics.
• Students can ask any school-related questions in our Help Zone, which is available seven days a week.
• Printable resources allow your teen to study while having fun. For example:
  • Do improv exercises to work on language skills
  • Make up stories in different genres
  • Create a story based on a theme
  • Colour mandalas to review homophones
  • Etc.

Here are some other fun informal educational activities:

• 10 science activities to do at home
• 5 astronomy-related educational activities
• 5 museum-related educational activities (including virtual museum visits)
• 5 archaeology-related educational activities
• 5 activities to spark your child’s interest in art
• 5 activities to bridge the gap between art and science
• 5 activities to spark your child’s interest in music
• Etc.

These activities are great jumping-off points to ask your teen about what they’re learning, what subjects they enjoy, and which assignments they find difficult. You can also take this opportunity to ask about their feelings. Prioritizing your child’s well-being and self-esteem will make it easier for them to eventually resume their normal life.

Your social circle can be a tremendous resource for helping your teen keep up with their schooling. Acting as your child’s teacher is a big responsibility when you have their health to worry about at the same time; having somebody else step in can take a bit of the pressure off your shoulders. 

In fact, your teen may be more receptive with someone other than their parent when it comes to their schoolwork. Here are some ideas on where to find a tutor for your teen during their absence from school:

• See if you have any family members with a knack for explaining academic concepts
• Contact a retired teacher
• Ask around to see if anyone else you know might be able to help
• Ask your child’s teacher if they have anyone in mind
• Check the portal run by your school service centre or school board
• Search for tutoring services online (some are free)
• Etc.

A prolonged hospitalization or health-related absence can lead to all sorts of challenges for a teenager. For one, they experience a loss of control in many areas of their life, at an age when independence is so important. They also give up much of their privacy, which can profoundly affect their emotional well-being. Teens may respond to the situation in different ways. They may regress to the more dependent state of a younger child or actively defy their health care provider. Another possible source of apprehension is the thought of going back to school. As soon as your teen is hospitalized, you should try to prepare for their reintegration by working with the medical staff and school team. Throughout this process, it is essential to maintain healthy communicate and collaboration with the following people and organizations:

• The medical team (e.g., child psychiatrist, social worker, psychoeducator, nurse, hospital teacher)
• The school team (e.g., school principal, specialized staff, teachers)
• Community partners (e.g., CLSCs, community organizations, private sector)
• Your child, family members, and immediate social circle

Here are some things you can do to support your teen’s reintegration:

• Discuss their return to school with the medical team. Talk about their needs, wishes, and concerns, as well as your own.
• Inform your teen’s health care providers of the types of services they have received in the past. Mention which ones you think were most helpful.
• Encourage your teen to talk about the things that are stressing them out about going back to school.
• Ask the medical team for tips on how to help your teen cope with stress.
• Learn about resources and services outside the hospital that can support you in your parenting role (e.g., community organizations, support groups, CLSCs).

In the case of hospitalization due to a mental health issue, we recommend that you help develop a school reintegration plan that answers the following questions:

• Under what terms will your teen be returning to school?
• What steps will be taken to prevent a relapse?
• Who should do what in an emergency?

Once you, your child, and the school are ready, you can plan a gradual reintegration to ease the transition. Here are a few things to consider when planning your teen’s return to school:

• Meet with the principal and relevant school staff on your child’s first day back at school.
• Discuss your child’s reintegration plan and the support services they will have access to.
• Make sure your teen will get adequate support during this important transition.
• Help the medical team communicate the reintegration plan to all new individuals involved in monitoring your child’s progress. If your child is at least 14 years old, they can give consent.
• Follow up on your child’s reintegration plan once they have resumed full-time studies.
• Continue to listen to your child’s needs.
• Notify the school if your child seems to be struggling.
• Etc.