Planning a School Re-entry

Speak with the child and family before the child returns to school to determine how much information the patient is comfortable sharing.

Speak with the family and hospital staff about any medical items the child will need and appropriate ways to explain the purpose of these items to the class.

Find out what role, if any, the child and/or parent would like to have in the re-entry program.

Prepare the class for the child's return.

Set a time for the re-entry program during the first or second day the child returns to school, about 30 - 60 min.

Invite the child to bring items from the hospital to share (ex. video, scrapbook, art, medical collages, hospital "buddy").

Remember each child's story is his/hers and respect his/her choice in whether or not to share the story.

Focus on what the returning child is still able to do with his/her friends and classmates. Remind the class that the child is still the same person they were before.

Avoid detailed conversations about the specifics of the illness or injury. If the class is highly focused, you may want to compile a list of questions to e-mail hospital staff so the returning child is not pressured into answering them.

Celebrate the child's return to your classroom and recognize what he/she has accomplished.

Have fun and enjoy welcoming back your student into the classroom community.