It’s been a week or two since all kids and their parents are hooked to the Tv. Eagerly waiting for the issue regarding the reopening of school to come to a final decision. Now, as the decision has been made, your child must be in a divided mental state of being happy to meet their friends or sad to wake up early again. But there is only one thing that clouds your mind, how will you ensure your child’s healthy return to school.
The world took an unforeseen turn in 2020. The sudden change caused chaos in people’s lives and minds. Staying sane and healthy was the best you could do for yourself and your kids.
Distanced bodies, masked faces, and gloved hands are the new norm. This sudden change must have taken a toll on your mental health. You can only imagine what it did to your child’s fragile mind. Children often express their feelings in ways undecipherable by us. Their excitement of meeting their friends should not make you think that they are not afraid.
Once the schools finally open your little flower will have to face the world on its own. The best you can do is to prepare for your child’s healthy return to school.
Going to school in covid won’t be as easy and happy as it was before. But these simple tips can ensure a healthy return to school.
Table of Content
1. Inform Them
The darkness of the current situation might be difficult for your child to fathom. But you have to inform them, to prepare them to go back to school. The best way is to make them understand the situation in a light and friendly way. Inform them about the current situation and the risk posed to their health. Highlight the importance of safety and how these safety measures can save their health and lives.
After they are well aware of the situation, devise a plan of action with them. Involve them in the process and allow them to pitch in their ideas. If you give value to their ideas they are more likely to listen to yours.
2. Make Masking Fun
If your child is not used to wearing a mask prior to going to school. They are not likely to wear it in school too. You need to practice wearing a mask now. Tell them the importance of it and the risks it could save them from. Tell them the right way to wear a mask, that it should cover their face and nose. Teach them to keep their mask clean and to wash their hands if they touch them.
For making your child habitual of wearing a mask, buy them special masks with their favorite cartoon characters. The excitement of the new and fun mask will probably make them wear it for long.
3. The Handwashing Jingle
Even if you’ve trained your child to be clean you need to practice handwashing again. Handwashing for protection from the corona is different from washing hands to remove dirt. Make them watch various techniques to wash their hands effectively. Buy them fun soaps and make them enjoy the activity.
I still remember a jingle from a pear soap ad and I still sing it in my head, while washing hands. Do the same for your kid. Associating the activity with a fun jingle will help your child wash hands more often.
Also, teach them the importance of washing hands frequently and how this can help them combat the virus.
4. Make Sanitizer Their Friend
If your child is going to school or just to the neighbors, always tag a sanitizer along. Teach them how and when to use it. Buy them colorful and scented sanitizers.
The initial practice of using a hand sanitizer should be monitored. Sanitizers if ingested can be hazardous to your child’s health. Moreover, sanitizer can itch eyes or any open wound. It is important to teach them the use of sanitizer under adult supervision.
5. The No Touching Policy
Impose a “Do Not Touch’ policy in your home. Prohibit your children from touching random things. If they start practicing the no-touching policy at home, they are likely to take it to the school.
Show them the number of germs present on random surfaces through various videos on the internet. Show them illustrations, of how these germs can enter their bodies through their hands and what havoc they can wreak in there.
6. Your Go-To Techniques
Now that you have established all the important things that you need to teach your child before sending them off to school. You also need to learn a few techniques that might help to teach them well.
- Make illustrations your friend. Children are more likely to learn things from a fun cartoon than from a boring lecture. Search up some fun illustrations and videos that will teach them the safety measures.
- Lead by example. Whether you believe it or not, you or your partner are the role model of your child. Set an example by following all the safety measures yourself and they will most likely follow you.
- Offer small rewards. Offering small rewards after they follow your instructions will keep them motivated. This will motivate them to follow the instructions religiously. This reward can be a simple praise or their favorite candy.
- Leave gentle reminders. Don’t expect your child to follow all the instructions from the get-go. Give them gentle reminders and be patient.
7. Identify Their Special Needs
You have to identify your child’s special needs. Some kids are not physically able to fight the disease and some are mentally incapable of coping with it. All such kids need special attention. Moreover, if your child has serious health complications like asthma, allergies, or is a special child, they might need special attention from you and their teacher. For such kids, it’s best to consult a doctor and devise a plan in accordance with their health.
Book an appointment now, to devise a plan for your child’s healthy return to school. You can book an appointment with the best doctors in Pakistan through Marham by calling at Marham helpline: 0311-1222398 or by online booking facility through the website or Marham mobile app.
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Stay Home Stay Safe!
