After more than 50 days of distance learning driven by regional tensions, over a million students have returned to campuses across the UAE. The joy was palpable on their first day back. Many students brought flowers for their teachers; teachers, in return, brought stickers and chocolate for their students; and hallways were buzzing once again with the sounds of laughter and conversation.
But with their joy came lingering worry and uncertainty. Schools returned to in-person learning with strict safety measures in place: no outdoor activities, closed canteens, and routine emergency drills scheduled. For students, these conditions underscore the precarity of the moment. After more than a month of distance learning prompted by safety concerns, these ongoing protocols heighten the sense that they’re still not entirely safe.
The Impact of School Disruptions on Families’ Wellbeing
For such impressionable young minds, these disruptions can fuel significant challenges both at home and at school. Children—of all ages—may struggle with sleep issues caused by excessive worrying; changes in appetite, energy, mood, or concentration; deterioration in their academic or extracurricular performance; and increased isolation or social withdrawal.
For parents, concern for their children’s wellbeing can trigger a cascade of challenges of their own, including reduced concentration and work performance, elevated stress and anxiety, sleep or appetite issues, emotional exhaustion, as well as fatigue.
In these uncertain times, it’s clear that families need support. With Child and Family Wellbeing, Workplace Options (WPO) equips families with the comprehensive care they need to thrive through change and ongoing instability.
How Child and Family Wellbeing Helps Families Thrive
Whether a parent or caregiver is dealing with an anxious child who’s nervous about the return to school, or a child whose academic performance has declined since the initial switch to online learning, dedicated clinicians, counselors, and coaches are available to help children:
- Regain emotional regulation
- Rebuild academic and social confidence
- Navigate major changes to their routines
- Flourish in the face of everyday stressors
Parents and caregivers also receive dedicated counseling and coaching support aimed at helping them balance their family’s wellbeing with the demands of work. Over the course of several sessions, carers are guided how to:
- Recognize signs of distress in themselves and their children
- Reflect on how they can respond with meaningful, positive action
- Respond using practical, evidence-based strategies
- Recenter their families to better navigate uncertainty
Support in Action: How Child and Family Wellbeing Makes an Impact
This support is more than theoretical; in fact, it’s already transforming lives.
Take one parent who contacted the program seeking support for her eight-year-old daughter’s wellbeing. After experiencing a major disruption to her environment, her daughter began showing signs of attachment issues, as well as heightened anxiety. The mother expressed her fear that not only might her daughter fail to adapt—with consequences for her emotional development—but that she herself might say or do the wrong thing and thereby make the situation even worse.
A dedicated clinician listened closely to her concerns and assessed the family’s situation. She discovered that the daughter had faced a traumatic relocation earlier in childhood and was likely experiencing retraumatization. A series of coaching sessions were then arranged to help the mother learn how to be a calm, stabilizing presence for her daughter, while a pediatric counselor worked closely with the child to help her better express her emotions.
After the sessions, a customized plan was developed to help mother and child continue to progress after the program had concluded. A care coach recommended art therapy as a mutually beneficial communication tool that would allow the mother to nurture trust and emotional security for her daughter while strengthening her own wellbeing in the process.
Thanks to the team’s support, the mother observed significant progress in her daughter’s communication skills and independence. She was able to handle increasingly longer periods of time away from her mother and was beginning to show renewed interest in activities. At the same time, the mother noted improvements in her own wellbeing, as she found herself worrying less while she was at work—confident that her daughter could now cope without her constant presence.
This story highlights the impact WPO’s support can have on families navigating periods of change. It’s not just about children’s wellbeing, but parents’ and caregivers’ wellbeing, too. With Child and Family Wellbeing, families receive the integrated care they need to support the interdependent health of parent and child. When parents feel supported, children are better able to thrive—and when children feel more secure, parents can function with greater confidence and peace of mind.
“When uncertainty disrupts children’s sense of safety, they naturally turn to caregivers for regulation and reassurance, yet parents are often navigating the same instability,” explains Dana Bissar, a clinical psychologist at WPO. “Providing appropriate support can help re-establish a sense of safety, predictability, and emotional stability across the family system.”
Stabilizing Support for Unstable Times
As families across the UAE continue to face evolving disruptions to their routines, support like this will play an increasingly vital role in helping them stay grounded, confident, and optimistic. Whether you are a parent seeking resources for your child, or an employer or campus leader looking to invest in your people’s wellbeing, Workplace Options delivers the well-rounded care individuals need to stay resilient, connected, and supported in these challenging, uncertain times.
Connect with us today to learn more about our family support offerings, or visit https://www.workplaceoptions.com/child-family-wellbeing/ to learn more about Child and Family Wellbeing.
