With the last days of summer dwindling down and the first day of school rapidly approaching, now is the perfect time to start talking to your child about what the upcoming school year will look like and how to be safe when and if they need to return to a classroom setting. With the start of the school year on the horizon, it is also time to make sure your child gets their school physical, which will need to be on file with the nurse prior to the first day. Before your child re-enters the classroom, make sure you take the time to talk to them about necessary safety measures that will be taken this fall.

Adjusting to wearing a mask for long periods of time

Your child may only be used to wearing a mask or protective face covering for short amounts of time, such as a trip to the store or a walk to get fresh air. If they are returning to the classroom, your child will need to adjust to wearing a mask for the duration of the day, with the possible exception of lunchtime. In order to help your child get adjusted to the mask, have them wear it for longer periods of time each day, including when they play indoors or outdoors, ride their bike, watch television or go for a walk around the neighborhood. If you and your child decide that virtual learning is a better fit, you should still encourage them to adjust to a mask for when in-person learning resumes. To help include them, have them pick characters or fabric they want featured on their mask to let their personality and style shine through. 

Talk to your child about the importance of washing their hands

Children are naturally curious and have playful energy, which means they will be more inclined to touch playground equipment and other surfaces that may have been touched by others prior to being disinfected. While you do not need to tell your child to avoid the playground and common classroom objects, make sure you do go over how to effectively wash their hands in order to kill germs and remove buildup. While young children should be supervised while using hand sanitizer, you can take this time to go over proper application in case running water or soap are unavailable. 

School Physicals & Urgent Care for Students in Louisville, Boulder & Superior, CO

Make sure your child is prepared for the school year by getting a physical and a flu shot. AFC Urgent Care Louisville is open seven days a week, with extended hours to best fit your needs. Walk-in patients are always accepted. For questions, please call 720-961-9700.