Returning to Schooling

There are many adaptations and accommodations that can make it easier for you to gradually return to schooling.

It’s important to work with your school, family and healthcare team to figure out how to meet your goals and needs.

You might need to think more flexibly about the type and amount of schooling that best suits you. Some options include:

  • regular school program
  • self-paced
  • homebound teacher
  • home-schooling
  • distance learning
  • other alternate programs

You will also need to think about how much school is right for you:

  • full-time or part-time?
  • reduced course load?
  • spare block?
  • homework thinning?
  • delayed graduation?

If you need more support, talk to your school about other ways they can help you to be successful, like giving more time for assignments, getting counseling, and using note-taking strategies.

Pacing

You can apply pacing to any type of activity, including academics and physical education.

Pacing in P.E.

Work with your teachers to help them understand what you’re able to do. Some options that could help you participate in PE include:

  • Modified activities that allow for pacing
  • Take regular rest breaks
  • Do an alternative activity that is more in line with your paced program
  • Get graded on participation/effort vs. performance

Pacing in the classroom

There are also things you, your school, and healthcare team can do to make it more comfortable for you to be in the classroom. Some options include:

  • Adapt your position or seating in the classroom so you are more comfortable
  • Take stand and stretch breaks.
  • Get two sets of textbooks: One for home and one for school.
  • Adjust your schedule to have extra time between classes,
  • Use the elevator.
  • Have a separate room for pain management/rest breaks.

Helpful Resources

Be the boss of your pain: Self care for kids

By: T. Culbert and R. Kajander

Kids will be happier and healthier when they are the boss of their bodies and can take care of some of their pain on their own. The self-care skills in this book help kids learn what they can do to take care of themselves. They will learn to deal with headaches, stomachaches, and other pain to make themselves feel better.

The kid's guide to taming worry dragons.

By: S. L. Clark, J. E. Garland, Children’s & Women’s Health Centre of BC 2nd Edition.

This book provides an overview of taming worry dragons (types of worries, how they affect your body and thoughts, when they come around) as well as a summary of tools for "trapping & taming" worry dragons. Space is available for kids to add their own ideas about taming their worry dragon.

A child in pain: How to help, what to do.

By: L.K. Kuttner. Hatley & Marks Publishers. (1996).

A book to help parents help their child cope with pain as well as ensure that the pain is properly managed by health care professionals.