After schools moved to be online in spring, many students were eager to return this fall despite COVID concerns. Returning to work as responsible, cautious adults is one thing, but young, reckless kids and teenagers returning to school is another story. So, what exactly does going back to school during a pandemic mean for students and parents?

There are many things your child has to implement during their day at school to stay safe. However, the safety steps continue even after your child is back home. Kids, in general, are less symptomatic, which also means they can be super-spreaders of the virus. They can come home unknowingly as carriers of the virus.

At school, your kids will experience an education with multiple social distancing measures in place. They should be taught to maintain distance, avoid contact forms like hugging and shaking hands, and perhaps opt for an air high five instead. Talk to your kids about the importance of the situation and why wearing a mask and abiding by the rules is crucial for everyone.

After-School Routine Adjustments

Your kids’ old after-school routine must be altered to accommodate better hygiene and cleanliness. When they return home from school, they must suspend their usual lunchtime and TV-watching routine.

Shower Routine

Switch your child’s usual normal shower or bath time by bathing and changing into fresh clothes right when they return home. They should immediately dispose of their clothes in the washer and shower before doing anything else.

Disinfect

Their school bags, books, and other belongings taken to school should be disinfected daily. High-contact items such as phones, school supplies, clothes, shoes, and lunchboxes should all be cleaned or washed thoroughly. Electronics like their phones should be wiped with a cleaning agent like rubbing alcohol so it doesn’t harm or damage the products.

Allocate items

Keeping items in a specific place prevents contamination in other areas of your home. For example, when they get home from school, their school bag should always be placed in a specific corner of their room instead of being thrown on the bed or the couch.

Use Disposable Bags

Placing their school bags and other belongings in a disposable plastic bag is a good idea. A more eco-friendly option would be to pack their lunches and carry-ons within a brown suitcase. Placing their things in these disposable bags will prevent contamination of other places, such as your car or anywhere within their room.

Talk to your kids

A global pandemic is stressful and confusing not only for adults but also for young children. Take the time out of your day to talk and communicate with your kids regarding their day. The more you talk about the situation, the more it will be normalized for the children to accept the good and the bad days. Some kids may be more sensitive to the problem and require more behavioral or emotional support, so you should focus on staying connected to your kids now more than ever. You can also teach them how to breathe exercises to keep them calm.

Additional tips

Besides taking steps to ensure the safety of your household, advise your kids against certain

practices during school. This can include sharing utensils, stationery, and even books in school. The easiest method of not catching anything is by looking after your things and not using others.

Avoid taking the bus.

Students who live close to school must find alternative means of transportation that are not near other people. These modes of transportation can include walking, biking, or getting dropped off.

Face Masks

Peer pressure can be a factor for children, especially older students who wear masks. Please remind your children how crucial it is always to keep their masks on. To make your child more comfortable and less fussy about wearing masks, allow them to choose a patterned mask that fits their personality. Buy multiple washable, reusable masks as backup, and pack an extra one in your child’s backpack daily.

Nutrition

If you pack your child’s lunch, it’s important to incorporate healthy snacks and a well-balanced diet that would help boost their immunity. They can also regularly take gummy vitamins at home as directed by a pediatrician. These delicious gummies are loved by all kids and are packed with health benefits. Another method of building immunity is ensuring your kids are up to date with all their routine vaccinations.

Children learn by example, so if you implement these tips into your daily routine when you get home from work, your kids will be obliged to do the same. Take all precautions as a family. Set guidelines at home and be strict about making sure everyone follows them.

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