With schools continuing to announce their decisions on how the academic year is going to look, now is the time to begin preparing your child for virtual, in-person and hybrid learning. Making sure your child knows how to be safe if they are put in a school environment will help keep them healthy, as well as the rest of your family.  Follow these steps to begin preparing your child for the upcoming year!

Helping your child adjust to wearing a mask for extended periods of time

If your school district elects to do in-person or hybrid learning, there will likely be a mask requirement in each classroom for protection. This may require an adjustment period for your child, who may be uncomfortable at first. Have them start getting used to wearing a mask by having them wear one for longer periods of time each day, whether they are playing, reading or watching television. This will prepare them for wearing one for the majority of the school day, with the exception of lunch time. Teach them how to properly care for their masks by washing them once a day and teaching them how to take it off and put it on correctly. In order to get them more excited or interested in wearing a mask, have them pick out designs or characters to feature on rewearable masks. 

Make sure your child knows how to properly wash their hands, every time

Because children are naturally curious, they may be more prone to touching things. Because COVID-19 can live on surfaces for long stretches of time, it is important to make sure your child knows how to properly wash their hands, several times a day. Teach them to:

• Get both sides of their hands wet under warm, running water
• Apply and later with antibacterial soap
• Scrub for at least 30 seconds, focusing on the back of their hands, between their fingers and underneath their nails
• Rinse with warm to hot water

Make sure they know to wash their hands several times a day, especially before eating, after using the restroom and when there is any kind of buildup on their hands including dirt from recess and clay or paint from art class.

When should I keep my child home from school due to illness?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing for the foreseeable future, you may be more inclined to keep your child from school on more occasions than past years. There are certain conditions that can lead to complications from COVID-19, especially if your child already suffers from an upper respiratory infection such as asthma. Consult with your pediatrician or physician about when your child should be kept at home. If your child develops a cough, stuffed or running nose or a fever, keep them home from school for at least 24 hours after the fever breaks. Perform temperature checks each more while they get ready for school, and keep them home if they spike a low-grade fever. If your school district or individual school determines that hybrid or in-person learning will take place, they will most likely send home information on health and safety measures teachers and administrators will be taking along with expectations for students. 

Pediatric Urgent Care in Marlborough, MA

If your child is in need of a school physical or has an acute illness, visit AFC Urgent Care Marlborough! Our urgent care center is open extended hours seven days a week to best fit the needs of our patients. For more information, please call 508-658-0764.