Back to school time is usually a time filled with excitement, lots of shopping, and a little bit of nervousness. Each year brings something new and parents get to enjoy a little break while their kids get to learn and socialize. Unfortunately, school has been affected by COVID-19 just like nearly every other part of our daily lives. As the new school year is quickly approaching many parents are unsure of what to expect and how to prepare their child. This school year has a lot of uncertainty still as COVID-19 cases don’t seem to be slowing down, but there are some things you can do to help your child be more prepared!
Is It Safe for Your Child to Return to School?
Every parent wants their child to be safe, especially when they aren’t with them. schools are taking precautions to make in-person learning as safe as possible during this pandemic. As long as parents, children, and school staff all work together to create a safe and clean learning environment, there is no reason to be worried about sending your child back to school! Some high-risk students and families may opt for remote learning too.
Preparing Your Child
Preparing your child for their return to school will vary a little depending on their age and how your child learns best. There are three major things to focus on: hand washing, social distancing, and mask wearing. Talk with your child about each topic so that they have a full understanding of why each aspect is so important to keeping them and their classmates safe. For younger children, it may be helpful to practice at home before the school year begins. Your child should wear a mask at all times in school unless they’re actively eating or drinking. Social distancing will be organized by the school to limit the number of students per classroom but explain to your child that they should stand 6 feet apart from their friends to have a conversation. This is all new and may be confusing to them, but practice makes perfect! Encourage your child to wash their hands frequently throughout the day and provide hand sanitizer for them to use in between washes.
Visiting an Urgent Care Center
The final step to preparing your child for a return to school is a visit to your local urgent care center. At urgent care, your child should receive a school year physical to ensure they’re healthy enough to attend. If you have any medical questions or concerns about your child, this is the time to address them! While you’re at urgent care, your child can be tested for COVID-19 to ensure they won’t be spreading the virus when they return to school.
Give your local urgent care center a call today to ask more about school physicals, COVID-19 testing, and any other health concerns your family has!
