PREPARING FOR A RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER COVID-19: CREATING EMOTIONALLY HEALING SPACES FOR CHILDREN IN BRAZILIAN SCHOOLS

I explore the preparations necessary so that schools and classrooms are prepared to meet the emotional needs of students when schools reopen after the Coivd-19 pandemic has subsided. I discuss what factors a school planning team and individual teachers need to take into account in preparing for a return to classrooms. Children may suffer general anxiety due to fear of infection; they may suffer from loneliness, depression or purposelessness; they may have a crisis in their family due to loss of income; stress may place children at risk of domestic violence; and some children may have experienced bereavements. Children who come from black families or indigenous families are at greatest risk. Recommendations for identifying children at greatest risk are offered, as well as practical suggestions for how teachers can build an emotionally safe and healing classroom space that gives students a sense of security.