Back-to-school prep has never been quite like this. In previous years, parents’ and kids’ biggest concerns were usually things like patterned vs. plain notebooks and the exorbitant costs of graphing calculators. This year, however, is a whole new ballgame. Here are some tips families can use to get ready for the upcoming year.
Manage Expectations
It’s important to prepare for uncertainty.
⦁ Know that school policies may get more or less strict over time depending on how the virus is managed in your area.
⦁ Talk with your child about their fears and anxieties about the upcoming year.
⦁ Bring any questions you have about technology, schedules, or workloads up with your school administration.
Preparing for At-Home Time
Help your child succeed at home.
⦁ Many schools are planning a blended schedule for the upcoming year, with some days in school and others at home.
⦁ Make sure your wireless network can support your child’s needs.
⦁ Set up a study station your child can use to buckle down.
⦁ Be ready for increased sibling tension, and come up with coping tools. If you discover that you need expert advice, Family Coach, LLC can help.
⦁ Create a family-wide cleaning routine to reduce germs at home.
⦁ Encourage your kids to take breaks at home, and spend some time outdoors.
Back to the Classroom
Keep your kids, their peers, and their teachers safe and healthy:
⦁ Your child will most likely be required to wear a mask during the school day buy or make a couple of cloth masks so they always have one clean.
⦁ Send your child to school with disinfectant wipes they can use to wipe their station down.
⦁ Remind them to practice social distancing at all times.
⦁ Set up a decontamination station to keep your home germ-free after school.
These resources are just a jumping-off point. Work with your teachers and school districts to understand the regulations that make sense for your area. Remember: Caution keeps yourself and your community healthy. When we all take responsibility, we protect one another.
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