Helping Kids Get Back to School T
Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln
o help your children navigate some of the complicated emotions they may be facing going back to school, here are some great suggestions from UNICEF and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
If your child is uneasy about going back to school. Children may feel nervous or reluctant to return to school, especially if they have been learning at home for months. You can help your kids feel more at ease by having an open conversation and letting them know that it’s natural to feel anxious. Be honest about the changes they may find at school, like the need to wear a face mask and be physically distanced from friends and teachers. Encourage them to think about other ways to bond and stay connected. Remind children about the positives—that they will be able to see their friends and teachers (if they are physically returning to the classroom) and continue learning new things. Children often take their emotional cues from the key adults in their lives, so it is important that adults manage their own emotions well, remain calm, listen to children’s concerns, speak kindly, and reassure them. Let them know why safety measures are important. Reassure children that the safety measures are in place to help keep students and teachers healthy. Remind children that they can help prevent germs from spreading by washing their hands with soap and coughing and sneezing into their elbow. One of the best ways to keep children safe from COVID-19 and other diseases is to simply encourage regular hand washing. It doesn’t need to be a scary conversation. Sing along with their favorite song or dance together to make learning fun. Make sure to teach them that even though germs are invisible, they could still be there. When children understand why they need to wash their hands, they’re more likely to continue doing so. Kids and face masks. Children may get upset about wearing face coverings, especially when running or playing. Kids will accept new safety measures as normal if adults model the behavior by following the same recommendations—wearing a face mask, frequent hand washing, and safe physical distancing. Emphasize that it’s important we all follow the guidelines to take care of the more vulnerable members of our community. Understandably, children may be leery of cloth face coverings at first. Here are a few ideas from the American Academy of Pediatrics to help make them seem less scary for younger kids:
30 | Lincoln Kids Magazine Fall 2020