The new school year has returned – Whether your child’s school has started full-time virtual learning, in the classroom or a bit of both, it is clearly not the traditional back-to-school experience that we’ve known.
Our Family Direct Primary Care has some tips to help kids successfully navigate their return in the most healthy, safe way possible no matter which scenario it may be.
Mask etiquette: Children learn best when they see their parents or role models doing the right thing – they need to see and hear about the importance of mask wearing which is the best way to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19. Teach your children to wear a mask properly and gradually accustom them to the long periods of time they will be wearing a mask. It’s best to remove masks by the ear straps instead of the cloth for optimal hygiene!
Proper hygiene: Incorporate a fun song for the length of time children should be washing their hands. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star or the ABC’s is good amount of time and makes the process a little more manageable. Teach them to avoid touching their face throughout the day and to cough or sneeze into the elbow.
Physical distance: We often hear the word, social distancing, but the correct term should be physical distancing since kids will be social at school! At this point we all know to physical distance as much as possible by being six-feet apart. Schools should be incorporating this in the classroom, but it’s always good to hear about it from parents as well.
Open conversations: Start establishing open, age-appropriate conversations with your children. They know what is going on, and the best thing to do is be honest as to not bring on any anxious thoughts or feelings. Let them know that we’re all in this together and that you may not have all the answers, but that it’s okay. Our health experts and teachers are doing everything possible to ensure health and safety.
Regular routine: A consistent routine will be key in going back to school and maintaining healthy thoughts and habits. Since the beginning of the pandemic everybody’s schedules have been thrown off, parents should start their kids with a regular sleep schedule and avoid electronics at least and hour or two before bedtime. Maybe read a book to ease their minds before bed and be available to them throughout this new process.
Our Family Direct Primary Care offers school physical exams, contact us today for more information!