Tips to Prepare Kids for Back to School During Covid
With the recent Covid outbreak in New Zealand, everyone now understands that life in our country will be somewhat different. While other countries experienced this drastic change a year ago, we managed to prolong it till now.
We wanted to share some tips on preparing your kids back to school when the kids are allowed back.
Getting enough sleep for kids is imperative, no matter what time of the year it is. It contributes to their general well-being and immunity. Make sure they have a night routine where they have time to relax and read a book before going to bed.
A morning routine is as important, if not more. Kids need to know what's expected of them and complete their tasks like making their bed, brushing their teeth and having breakfast without too much parental involvement.
Talk to your children about what going to school will look like now. Prepare them for the changes and new rules to be aware of. Talking about why the new rules are in place and how they will keep us safe can provide peace of mind for the child and reduce any anxiety they might have. With so much uncertainty right now, talking with your child about the possibility that their school might close again in the future is also a good idea.
If you haven't spoken to your child about the pandemic much and they just heard about it from others, you may want to discuss it in-depth and be honest and open about it. This can significantly help kids cope with the changes better.
Check-in with your child regularly and use every opportunity to talk to them about their fears or feelings. Talking about their feelings and situations and reassuring them can greatly help with any anxiety they might be experiencing.
Don't forget about the positives! Talk to your child about what they look forward to when they attend school. Things can still be very exciting - seeing friends and playing with them, learning their favourite subject again or seeing their teacher.
Remember, kids are resilient! The more we normalise what's happening, the easier it will be for them to deal with our different lives.
Be the role model, show good hand hygiene, use your elbow when sneezing, stay home if feeling unwell, and wear a mask. It can be helpful to practise wearing a mask when going in public. That way, your child will be used to wearing a mask for a longer time when it's required.
While discussing all aspects of the pandemic with your kids, it's also important to be positive and normalise things as much as possible. Children feel when their parents are stressed and get affected by it deeply, so showing them that things aren't as bad and that staying calm is how to deal with the current situation can teach kids excellent life skills.