Schools Are Opening!!!

 

    Parents! Get set, Get ready and we are off to the races... ok not exactly we are off to school. Normally this time of the year brings excitement as well as anxiety.Kids are excited to see their friends to learn all the things they experienced over the summer. Those moving on from one level, like from middle school to high school, or from high school to college may have anxieties.

Parents are very stressed and confused and this is very understandable.One group of students that I haven't heard mentioned are the Junior Kindergartens going out to school for the first time.It is going to be very hard on these little ones going out for the first time. For some of them it will be the first time leaving their caregivers or parents for a more structured environment. It has been my experience as an educator that some of these precious little ones take a while to adjust, and some cry for the first few weeks. With Covid this will even more unsettling.

No doubt trying to explain Covid to infants has been quite emotional both for them as well as adults.Their normal routine and life has been disrupted as we know it.This has not been a normal summer by any stress of the imagination and if we are going to be honest, things will not be returning to normal any time soon. How can parents navigate during these stressful times knowing they have to send the children out to school. Many parents do not have the support or resources to keep children at home as they need to return to work themselves.

Here are a few tips for parents:

1.Have an open honest conversations with children about what school will look like

2.For younger kids talk about bathroom drills with them and tell them to ask for help. Have this talk with them everyday.

3.Show children how to ear their masks

4.Have a supply of masks on hand as children will lose them, but also try their masks each day as children will lose them. Also masks need to be washed and changed each day.

5.Give older children sanitizers but be careful with younger children as you do not want them ingesting it or getting it their food.

6.Keep on top of what the school is doing in terms of cleaning and social distancing. Keep constantly in touch with your child/ren's teacher.

7.Find out from your kids what goes on at school. Constantly check your child's temperature as well as finding out how they are feeling.The moment your child indicates that he or she isn't feeling well you should keep them home just to be safe. Also if it persists parents should get their child/ren tested.

8.Find parents in the class or school and form a support group.This is very important as parents can be a strong support for each other.Parents can arrange to pick each other's child, and look after each other's child on alternate days. This will help parents in getting a break which can help to reduce stress. It also helps children in maintaining some normalcy with hanging out with their friends.

9.Do not feel that as parents you must go through this alone, especially for single parents with no support or little resources.Find groups to join or listen to your local counsellors  as well as scientists and doctors. Covid 19 is an invincible enemy therefore we must be informed on how to managed it. Let's all do our part. Until a vaccine is found the virus will be us for a while. We must protect our precious gems which are our children.

If you someone struggling, please reach out. We all need each other at this time. The virus does not discriminate. Check up and check in on others and be kind to each other.Let us take care of each other.

Parent, teachers, and everyone let us have the best school year possible in 2020 for our children. One love, and be safe.