Back to schools during a pandemic? A quick guide to all the factors parents and educators need to take into consideration

One of the most divisive and challenging decisions to make in times of the coronavirus pandemic is whether or not you should send your kids back to schools when they reopen. It’s a question that many parents have yet to come up with an answer

Do your children need to be in a physical classroom?

Keeping children out of school is a bold decision. Schools are critical to learning and the complete well-being of our kids. As schools consider how to safely reopen primary schools and nurseries, many mitigation strategies are being shared with educators and parents for their sincere consideration. These latest considerations for education centers are deliberate to aid schools as they plan to protect the health of their children, safety, and overall well-being.

No parent will ever want to put their kids into a situation where they have a high potential to contract the virus, but schools in South Korea and Japan have proven otherwise. They have been operative for quite a time now and this encourages other countries to follow in their footsteps.

If you are to send your children back to schools, follow these tips and you and they will be alright -

Emphasize daily precautions

Social distancing — has proven to flatten the curve as it limits close contact between people, therefore reducing the risk of contracting the virus from each other. The virus is being spread through all types of human contacts, including handshakes, hugging, and communication in person. You must keep reminding your children not to share drinks, foods, or anything, for that matter. This is NOT SAFE.

Wearing a mask at all times — This helps restrain any possible transmittable respiratory droplets which might get released while talking or coughing. What’s more worrying is that an individual can’t say nor does they manifest any symptoms as soon as they contract the virus. So, basically, even if any person has already contracted it, he or she wouldn’t realize it until severely ill or bed-stricken. This is why many schools across Asia have made it mandatory for the kids to follow all precautionary measures, regardless of any condition. And, you being parents have the heaviest responsibility to reinforce this habit on your kids while they are back-to-schools.

Washing of hands — Remind your kids of washing their hands every time they come out to play with friends or after having lunch surrounded by friends and never to touch their nose or mouth with dirty hands. Make sure they have understood what you have said to them and they will follow. Kids are the hardest task and therefore, parents and tutors both have to be more than just cautious.

Always pay heed to what your children have got to tell you

Children are mysterious beings. They are unpredictable and surely do our assistance to live a healthy and happy life. If your children are back-to-school during the pandemic, apart from reinforcing all the precautionary measures, you should also be all ears to their stories, because it might be important. You play the role of their confidante.

It is very much of importance that your kid feels not only comfortable but acknowledged while expressing any anxiety they might be having as to returning to school during the pandemic or any other concerns, hence try to be heedful and as available as possible. Being susceptible is difficult, though, so you might want to be the one to initiate a conversation if they are not telling themselves.

Let your parental instincts guide you

There have been many horrifying “first times” you have experienced since you became parents. With time you must have had enough experience plus developed a parental instinct. Let it guide you while sending your kid back to school.

Sending them back to schools won’t be as worrisome as you might now be thinking if practiced these tips.