Parents and kids all over the country are tired of being in quarantine, which is understandable. They’ve been stuck at home for months and haven’t seen any of their friends or even extended family. Many parents who work from home and have to take care of their kids’ education, meals, and fun activities around the clock can’t wait for camps and child care centers to start up again.
Many parents and kids are eager to get back to normal as soon as possible, but when schools, child care centers, and offices reopen, “normal” will look different. Administrators will have to follow new health and safety protocols, practices, and guidelines from the Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This will have a big effect on your child’s life.
There are a number of ways to make sure that both kids and parents have a smooth transition back to school. Here are some tips to help you get through this new part.
Look at the changes that are being made
Paramus Daycare has made a video for kids who are going back to the center, as well as other things for parents to look at that explain what will change in the future. For one thing, students will be dropped off at the entrance and go back to their classrooms with their teachers instead of their parents. Parents should tell their kids about this ahead of time so they won’t be surprised and will know what to expect. Assure them that the change is for the better. Use phrases like, “You can go in like a big boy! ”
When children arrive, their temperatures will be taken to make sure they don’t have a fever. Reassure them by saying things like, “All of our friends do healthy things like you do! “Also, if your child always brings a special soft toy to school, find a place in the car for it to “wait” for them, since they won’t be able to bring it to school with them to stop the spread of germs.
Masks will be there, which may seem strange to kids who haven’t been outside much in the past few months. Teachers and administrators will wear masks, and parents will have to wear masks when picking up or dropping off their children. If your child is older than 2 and wants to wear a mask, you could find a cute one they would like.
Tell your kids that these masks are meant to keep everyone safe and that they shouldn’t play with them. If they haven’t already, make sure they see you with the mask on before you drop them off. This will help them feel comfortable and adjust.
Get ready for anxiety about leaving
Even though it may seem like everyone wants to get out of their homes and spend less time with each other, children can still have separation anxiety when their schedules change and they don’t know what to expect. Some of the people who cared for them as babies and toddlers may not be remembered, and they may be nervous as they get to know them again. Even though three- and four-year-olds are more likely to remember their teachers and classmates, it has still been a long time since they’ve seen them. Talk to your child about going back to child care, no matter what. Show them photos or videos from their class and talk about seeing their friends. Ask them how they feel about it, or even get them to draw pictures that show you how they feel. This will help them figure out how they feel and keep them from being shocked.
Be sure of yourself and reassuring
As parents, we don’t always realize that our kids might be picking up on any stress we have. Even just watching the news can make us feel worried, and our kids can easily pick up on this feeling. Also, kids tend to take things very literally. A parent might say, “I lost my job,” and the child might say, “I’ll help you find it!” “As parents, it’s our job to tell our kids as much as we can about what’s going on around them and what they should say and do (and maybe what they shouldn’t say or do) in different situations.
Make sure they know you'll miss them
Let’s just say it: these past few months have been hard. A lot of parents are out of work. Those who had jobs had to juggle their work responsibilities with taking care of their children and taking them to school events. The days have been long, and there hasn’t been anyone to watch the kids.
Still, there have been some good things in the past few months. No time spent traveling, and a lot of time with your kids that you would not have had otherwise. There were probably tears, fights, and tiredness because of learning activities and changing diapers, but there were also lots of cuddles, movie nights, and games. Your children have been growing up right before your eyes.
To do this, tell your kids how much you’ve enjoyed all the time you’ve spent together. Tell them how much you’re going to miss them. Give them a picture of their family that they can put in their locker. Show them all the pictures of them you have on your phone and tell them you’ll be looking at them all day. Above all, tell your child that you’ll see them soon and pick them up at the end of the day.
Get pumped!
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Don’t forget to think about the good things: it’s time to go back to school! Yes, everyone might have to get their temperature checked and follow new rules, but the start of a new school year is still exciting. Parents can get the help they need, and kids can get back to their normal lives. Learning and starting a new journey of education. Have fun with your friends and even make some new ones. They can play, run, and shout in a place made just for them that is safe and fun. Most importantly, everyone will get another chance to miss each other.
Back to work and child care is going to be a change, but parents can help their kids have a great back-to-school experience by following the new rules, talking about how they feel, and, most importantly, showing their friends and teachers that they are excited about the return.
