Getting Your Child Enthusiastic About Going Back to the Classroom

After a long pandemic and having become accustomed to doing remote learning, some children might be a little hesitant about leaving home and going back to the classroom, especially if they are little. Below are some insights into each child’s sign, the parts about school they might look forward to doing the most, and what you might want to emphasize.

ARIES (Mar. 21- Apr. 19)

Independent and confident, they are the “I can do it” children. They are curious about everything and need to explore the world freely but safely. They are athletic and need to express their abundant energy and strength on a regular basis, so school athletics would appeal to an Aries child. An Aries child who is shuttered inside too much can get cranky. As they get older, they like to lead other children and may be voted class president as early as 4th grade. Speaking to the class while making a presentation does not throw an Aries child—they love the chance to do it. An Aries child also likes stickers—little stars to put on the calendar or to decorate their notebooks would make a big hit.

TAURUS (Apr. 20 -May 20)

Taurus children have very acute senses and like to take their time concentrating on various things they encounter that are new to them. They like to know ahead of time what’s coming (such as the schedule of events in school), because they like to prepare, rather than be surprised. They love the entire process of shopping for new clothes and new shoes—they are very tactile—and deciding what to wear on the first day is fun. Taurus children don’t like to be rushed, so together, choose their clothes the night before and lay them out to speed things along in the morning.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun. 20)

Your Gemini child is ever curious, versatile, and adaptable. They conform very well to new circumstances. When little, they adore story hour—to them, being read to is one of life’s pleasures, and many adult Gemini still feel that way. Once they learn to read, it will be hard to pry their beloved books from their little hands. They also like to write, so an older child might like their very own diary or journal to write down their experiences and feelings. If the school goes on trips, that will excite Gemini the most, even if the trip were in their home town. Gemini youngsters need a lot of variety, and school would offer them that.

CANCER (Jun. 21-July 22)

The Cancer child is very sensitive and quite close to their mother. If your child is small, reassure your child that you will be there to pick them up. If that is not possible, see if a beloved relative, such as a grandparent, can pick up the child. Cancer children of any age need a nurturing environment, and having playdates and sleepovers with other children will help the small Cancer child feel oriented. They’ll look forward to seeing their friends at school. Cancer rules food, so decide with your child what to put in their lunchbox. (Older Cancer children will enjoy choosing their food at the cafeteria.) Although Cancers are mainly attached to their mother, they love the whole family, so add a photo of mother, siblings, and father to the child’s backpack or lunchbox. If the child has a sibling at the same school, that would be an advantage to the tender Cancer.

LEO (Jul. 23-Aug. 22)

A Leo child will enjoy the creative aspects of school—painting, drawing, listening to music, or playing in the school orchestra. As the child gets older, they might look forward to music lessons on a preferred instrument. The more creative materials the school has to offer, the better, for the Leo child will want to experiment with and use many different kinds of materials to create their art. Be sure to put their artwork on the refrigerator or other prominent places in the home. They also would love being in the school play and would want one of the biggest starring roles.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Virgo children are tailor-made for school. They love the idea of being out of the house where they can go to a classroom to learn and are able to ask questions. They adore the process of getting ready by shopping for new supplies, new clothes, and new shoes, and look forward to the predictable structure of school. If the classroom has a school pet, the Virgo child would look forward to the interaction they would have with that little creature. Virgo is ruled by Mercury, so once they learn to read, they keep reading—they love books—and they even like doing homework. (They are probably the only sign that does.) They adjust well to going back to school. Virgo children are quiet, so they tend to make few friends, but among those friends they have, they keep them close. Having a close friend over to do homework together makes the process more fun.

LIBRA (Sep. 23-Oct. 22)

Libras are the most friend-oriented children of any in the zodiac. Playdates, sleepovers, and scheduling homework buddies are essential to keep Libra children engaged and motivated about going back to school. Libras are also tuned into culture, so if it’s possible, getting your child the “cool” sneakers or the hottest jacket, jeans, or backpack that the other kids will be wearing would help orient your Libra child, too. Generally, they love deciding what to wear each day, but doing so could take up precious morning time as they keep deciding (and changing their mind)—this decision is better left to the night before.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Scorpio children tend to be loners, preferring to have one or two very close buddies they can trust and have fun with instead of a group of kids to play with. They like familiar environments, so showing your child the school they will attend and even going inside for a little tour, if possible, would be a great way of acclimating the Scorpio child. They love routine, so once school starts, they will like the predictability of the schedule and will feel anchored by having their own cubby or locker. Scorpio children are intense and very goal-oriented, so as a parent, no matter what you child’s age, they want to succeed. Having you (rather than a tutor or outside caretaker) help them with their homework or prepare for a test will be comforting to the Scorpio child. Sometimes they become a little too obsessed with getting an A on all their work—show them when they are little that you will love them just as much if the teacher gives them a lesser grade. Underscore that what matters is the effort and knowing how they will eventually use the topic they are learning now.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Sagittarius children love “show-and-tell.” They are gregarious, so showing the class where they went over summer vacation or describing almost anything to a group would not throw them—they would look forward to it. They are strong children and need athletics to express their abundant energy. Getting on a school athletic team would delight the child of this sign. The Sagittarian child is very inquisitive, so having many questions answered is important to them. The thought of having an overnight class trips excite them—find out before school starts if that’s on the class agenda.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

The Capricorn child wants to do well in school and get a star on his homework paper or have the teacher laud her test results. Having confirmation that he is doing well is critical to the little Capricorn’s success—you can help in that process by congratulating her over her good marks and helping her with those subjects she might struggle with now and then. Pleasing you is very important to a Capricorn child. Your child most likely will look forward to historical subjects, such as learning more about dinosaurs and perhaps going to the museum to see dinosaur bones or replicas of these pre-historic creatures to understand their scale. Fossils, old coins, and other objects of the past also fascinate him

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Aquarius enjoys using all the new electronic devices, even as a small child. He loves the idea of learning on new computers and tablets and maybe having one for doing his homework. Earbuds, headphones—you name it—he loves the accoutrements of electronics. The Aquarian child also loves science class and learning about the planets, deep space, and taking field trips to the planetarium. As she gets older, the Aquarius child will enjoy biology, physics, and other areas of science. This is an intelligent child that needs a lot of stimulation—school is perfect for her. Aquarians enjoy the special equipment in the science lab and, of course, using a telescope would be a big draw.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

Pisces children are modest and private. They don’t boast about their accomplishments, and they prefer to have a one or two very close friends—not a wide variety. The Pisces child is happiest when working alone on artistic, creative projects that are within the school’s program as it allows them time to think and daydream productively. The social aspects of school would not be the most important element to them—they are happy to muse about things by themselves or with one close friend. If there is a school play, however, they would love to be given an important role. Getting to wear a costume would thill them no matter what their age. Pisces doesn’t just play the part, they become the part, which is why they make such convincing actors when they grow up. Pisces have vivid imaginations, and their expressions are likely to be original and compelling—they think for themselves and have a high degree of emotional intelligence, even at an early age. When young, they sometimes lack confidence, so be sure to celebrate their victories at home. Like Cancer children, mother plays a very important role in a Pisces’ life.