--- title: Returning to the ‘new normal’ – keeping kids calm in the classroom description: Our team of psychologists have put together some useful tips to keep children calm and focused in the classroom, as we enter the final few months of 2020 and this period of the “new normal.” image: https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hubfs/image-from-rawpixel-id-99611-jpeg.jpg --- [Back to smilingmind.com.au](https://www.smilingmind.com.au/) [![](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hubfs/SM_BlogLogo_black.svg)](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au) [Login/Sign up](https://app.smilingmind.com.au/?_ga=2.99144346.505229074.1559522319-1047861382.1534989894) - Mindfulness - [Meditation](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/meditation) - [Informal mindfulness](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/informal-mindfulness) - [Mindful eating](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/mindful-eating) - [Self care](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/self-care) - [Tips & Tricks](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/tips-tricks) - At Home - [Children](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/children) - [Parents](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/parents) - [Family](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/family) - In Schools - [Students](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/students) - [Teachers](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/teachers) - [Schools](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/schools) - At Work - [Workplace](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/workplace) - [Business](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/business) - Mental Health - [Anxiety](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/anxiety) - [COVID19](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/covid19) - [Mental Health](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/mental-health) - [News](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/media-release) [Teachers](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/teachers), [Students](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/students), [Anxiety](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/anxiety), [COVID19](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/covid19) 2 minute read # Returning to the ‘new normal’ – keeping kids calm in the classroom ![Smiling Mind Team](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hubfs/SmilingMind_Icon_RGB_Purple-Background.png) by [Smiling Mind Team](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/author/smiling-mind-team) ![](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hubfs/image-from-rawpixel-id-99611-jpeg.jpg) October 29, 2020 ### The past year has been one of the most unusual and unprecedented in our lives. For little ones it can be hard to understand, and for teachers to explain, why our lives have changed so drastically and suddenly. It’s been a tough year for the mental health of teachers and parents, we know it can be difficult to process our own emotions whilst staying strong for those that we teach and care for. Our team of psychologists have put together some useful tips to keep children calm and focused in the classroom and this period of the “new normal.” ## 1. Reassure them  During this time children’s emotions will be changing all the time as they adjust to some form of normality again. It is important to let them know that this is perfectly normal and okay to feel confused, frustrated or scared.  Whether in the classroom or at home, encourage children to talk about their feelings and express their emotions. You could try a range of creative activities like painting or drawing to help them communicate difficult emotions such as fear, sadness and anger.  Our [Smiling Mind Digital Care Packs](https://www.smilingmind.com.au/kids-care-packs) are full of activities and worksheets to help channel emotions in a more helpful way. ![Pretty teacher talking to the young pupils in classroom at the elementary school](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Pretty%20teacher%20talking%20to%20the%20young%20pupils%20in%20classroom%20at%20the%20elementary%20school.jpeg?width=1000&name=Pretty%20teacher%20talking%20to%20the%20young%20pupils%20in%20classroom%20at%20the%20elementary%20school.jpeg) ## 2. Carry out morning meditations  Beginning the day with a meditation is a great way to bring focus to the classroom and set intentions for the day ahead. Mindfulness can help to remove any lingering emotions from yesterday and pause the worries of tomorrow by helping children focus on the present moment.  Mindfulness isn’t just about paying attention it’s also about *how* we pay attention. True mindfulness involves an attitude of kindness and curiosity. Patience and perseverance are required, but not perfection! The more you and your students practice, the easier it becomes and the more content you will all feel.  Try the Bubble Journey in the Smiling Mind app today! ![DSC_7030-1](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/DSC_7030-1.jpg?width=1200&name=DSC_7030-1.jpg) ## 3. Keep firm classroom routines in place  Let them know what they can do to help in and around the classroom. Explain to them the importance of hand washing and how doing such a simple thing is helping to keep people safe. Perhaps you could come up with a class song that you all sing whilst washing your hands to make something fun out of a task that may become mundane.  Keeping structure to the school day is a great way to make sure they feel secure after a tricky and uncertain few months. Consistency is key and a good way to reduce stress and anxiety for children when everything around them may have seemed out of control. The daily structure of a classroom will help you and them resume some kind of normality and to engage with and enjoy the present moment. ## ![image-from-rawpixel-id-387354-jpeg](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/image-from-rawpixel-id-387354-jpeg.jpg?width=1200&name=image-from-rawpixel-id-387354-jpeg.jpg) ## 4. Make practising gratitude part of your weekend schedule  Carving time into your school day to practise gratitude has benefits for both you and your class. We suggest setting aside half an hour every week for quiet time in the classroom where each child writes down what they are grateful for, before sharing it with their classmates.  In doing this positive and mindful action it will remind the children what they have, rather than what they don’t have, and create a safe environment to do so among their peers in the classroom.  ![image-from-rawpixel-id-69084-jpeg](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/image-from-rawpixel-id-69084-jpeg.jpg?width=1200&name=image-from-rawpixel-id-69084-jpeg.jpg) We hope these tips will help you navigate the ‘new normal’ as you head back into the classroom.  ### For more information and practical tools put together by our team of psychologists visit the [Smiling Mind website](https://www.smilingmind.com.au/) and download our Digital Care Packs [here](https://www.smilingmind.com.au/kids-care-packs) ![Smiling Mind Team](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hubfs/SmilingMind_Icon_RGB_Purple-Background.png) ### Written by [Smiling Mind Team](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/author/smiling-mind-team) ### SIMILAR POSTS [![Smiling Mind teacher](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hubfs/image-from-rawpixel-id-99972-jpeg-1.jpg)](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/mindfulness-is-key-to-reducing-stress-in-teachers) #### [Mindfulness is key to reducing stress in teachers](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/mindfulness-is-key-to-reducing-stress-in-teachers) [Teachers](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/teachers), [Schools](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/schools) 2 minute read [![](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hubfs/Screen-Shot-2022-05-23-at-11.16.19-am-1.png)](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/mental-health-investment) #### [A critical moment to invest in the mental health and wellbeing of our future generations](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/mental-health-investment) [Children](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/children), [Family](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/family), [Teachers](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/teachers), [Students](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/students), [Schools](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/schools), [Mental Health](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/mental-health) 4 minute read [![](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hubfs/Dulux_SmilingMinds_1381%20v2.jpg)](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/5-minutes-with-principal-tip-kennedy) #### [5 minutes with Principal, Tip Kennedy.](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/5-minutes-with-principal-tip-kennedy) [Teachers](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/teachers), [Schools](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/schools) 2 minute read [![Teacher with head in hands, seeming stressed in front of a laptop](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/hubfs/teacher%20burnout.png)](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/managing-teacher-burnout-a-mental-fitness-guide) #### [Managing Teacher Burnout: A Mental Fitness Guide](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/managing-teacher-burnout-a-mental-fitness-guide) [Teachers](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/teachers), [Self care](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/self-care), [Mental Fitness](https://blog.smilingmind.com.au/tag/mental-fitness) 4 minute read [![What is the Mental Load? 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