11 minute read
HEALTH
Back-to-School: The New Normal
How parents can help children prepare for the uncertainties that lie ahead By Dr. Kristi Nix, Pediatrician at High Lakes Health Care
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The question of how school will look this fall looms large this summer. Will classes be in-person or via remote learning? If an in-person option is available, will it be safe? How does a family weigh the risks of social and academic setback against a virus we know so little about? How will kids thrive given another school year of social distancing and remote learning?
The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advocates for an education in which children are physically present this fall. As of late July, the Bend-La Pine School District rolled back its earlier announcement about bringing some kids back to school, and instead, began to make plans for mostly distanced instruction for students in the early fall. Kids in grades K-3 may have some in-person time, with every family having the option of signing up for 100% online classes.
Given the rapidity of change this year, I suspect there will be some alteration to that statement already by the time you read this article, though the basic question remains the same: How can families prepare children to start school this fall, and which is the best option for each family?
The abrupt shift to remote learning this spring came at great academic, social, and emotional costs. The lengthy time away from school and loss of associated supportive services for kids resulted in social isolation, making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits. Having no daily interaction with students, the school’s protective ability to detect abuse, anxiety, and depression was removed.
Data from Europe and Asia indicate that children do not appear to be a significant reservoir of COVID-19, and transmission between adults appears to be more frequent as well as resulting in a more severe disease. Overall, sending a healthy child to school appears to be less risky than adults meeting for happy hour.
One thing we know for sure: schooling will be different for kids this fall. For those who go back, desks will be farther apart, and kids will likely be eating lunch in their classrooms. Teachers and students will be in masks, and there will be less movement within the halls. There will be lots of hand washing, with class schedules likely staggered to reduce the chances of creating crowded areas.
Preparing Kids for School
Parents can spend the remainder of the summer showing their kids the value of taking care of their bodies and their minds. Focus on the immune system by providing a healthy diet with lots of physical activity. Ensure they are getting enough vitamin D and zinc, while aiming for a regular sleep schedule. Encourage kids to make their own healthy snacks and spend most of everyday outside. Practice good hand hygiene. Find a mask that is comfortable for them to wear and help them get used to wearing it. Talk about ways to play with friends while maintaining some distance, keep playdates outside, and do your best to support the development of resiliency in yourself and your children.
For families that choose to keep kids at home this fall, find ways to support social interactions and time with other children. Keeping a consistent schedule that prioritizes exercise and healthy eating as well as consistent completion of remote learning assignments is key.
Pediatric offices are open and ready to see kids to help them prepare for school this fall. School-age children should have an annual check-up, so families can talk to their pediatrician about growth, sleep, behavior and have immunizations updated. Vaccination rates were steadily declining before the coronavirus pandemic, and the stay-at-home order resulted in many kids falling even further behind in getting immunized. Protecting kids against measles, whooping cough and flu will be extra important this year, as an infection with one of these vaccine-preventable diseases may make children more susceptible to complications from coronavirus.
One thing is clear at this point, and that is: we will be managing risk from coronavirus throughout the school year. Helping kids find a way to navigate the risks while supporting their academic and social growth will take our entire community. We’ve got this!
Handwashing: A Family Activity Tips from the CDC
Handwashing is an easy, cheap, and effective way to prevent the spread of germs and keep kids and adults healthy. When your family is healthy, you don’t have to worry about missing school, work or other activities.
Help your child develop handwashing skills
Teach kids the five easy steps—wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry—and the key times to wash hands. You can find ways to make it fun, like making up your own handwashing song or turning it into a game.
Give frequent reminders
Building handwashing skills takes time. At first, your child will need regular reminders of how and when to wash hands. It is especially important to remind children to wash their hands after using the bathroom, before eating, after touching pets, after playing outside and after coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose. But once handwashing becomes a habit and a regular part of your child’s day, they will practice it throughout their lives.
Lead by example by washing your hands
Young children learn by imitating the behaviors of adults in their lives. When you make handwashing part of your routine, you’re setting an example for your children to follow.
What if soap and water aren’t available?
Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol, and wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you can.
Baby Wipes
Baby wipes may make your hands look clean, but they’re not designed to remove germs from your hands. CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water when possible.
Remember to make handwashing a healthy habit at home, school, and at play!
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SAVE THE DATE
Feel the Freedom
Bicycle commuting for kids of all ages
Story and photos by Joshua Savage
Kaia, Chloe & Peter - the DRW Bike Club
The beginning of a new school year represents a fresh start – new classes, new people and opportunities. Like the beginning of a new year, back-to-school can be the perfect time to set goals and resolutions. Why not make one of them becoming a bike commuter—however the school year looks?
Health Benefits
Riding a bike teaches kids skills and has many advantages. Numerous health benefits first come to mind: muscle strength, improved coordination and balance and cardiovascular health, to name a few. In the tech driven world of today, kids need more physical activity. Especially in the morning, biking is an awesome way to exercise and to get the blood flowing. By the time kids start the school day, they’ll be energized, more focused, and ready to go. Who doesn’t feel more alert and mentally engaged after a good morning workout?
Biking gives kids a sense of freedom in the outdoors. When I gave my daughters the OK to ride around the neighborhood and explore on their own, a new world opened up for them. This past summer when I caught myself telling them, “Be back by dark,” some of my fondest memories were reawakened of a time when I cruised through the neighborhood on my BMX as a kid. I lived too far from my school to commute, but often rode for as long as my parents allowed.
Getting Oriented
Biking also helps kids to build orientation skills. Learning directions and routes deepens an awareness of their surroundings. I was dumbfounded the first time I asked my sixth th grade class if they knew directions to their homes. Most knew their address, maybe a few knew landmarks along the way, but very few knew an
actual route home. Why? None of them rode their bikes! Bend is one of the bike-friendliest cities in the United States. With over 300 miles of bike lanes in the city and steadily growing, an easy route to school is almost a guarantee.
Keep it Green
Bicycle commuting can also open the door to conversations about the environment, as commuter cyclists are contributing to less traffic and fewer pollutants. Caring for Central Oregon’s envi
ronment is important, and we want the next
“We are lucky to live in Bend,
generation to be good stewards of the earth.
one of the bike-friendliest cit
to drive when they are old enough, having experienced the freedom and ease of the
Who knows, maybe kids will delay the desire
ies in the United States. With
bike. Most older kids really don’t need a car
to get to high school and just think of the car
insurance savings! At the very least, cycling to school saves the time and headache of waiting in the carpool lines.
an easy route to school is almost a guarantee.”
Getting Started
Of course, we have to consider certain factors about kids riding on their own. Most importantly is age. Building positive habits while kids are young is best, although younger kids may need incentives and more oversight.
Biking together as a family, whether through the neighborhood or to a park or trail, provides time together and gets kids comfortable on the bike. Playing games, stopping for a picnic, or getting
ice cream along the way can make the experience more enjoyable. Before you cut them loose on their own, find the safest route and ride it together to make sure they’re comfortable, or, if they are young, ride with them every day. If possible, consider a bike train where one adult rides with a group of kids.
No matter the age, students usually enjoy time with friends. One idea is to help them form a bike club. Although they may be ready to ride solo, a partner or group is probably best until they get older.
Gear them up!
Helmets are mandatory; reflectors too, if they ride near dark. Do the brakes work? Are the handlebars straight? Do the tires have plenty of air? Maybe even add a basket for carrying gear, or a bell on the front (even if they ring it obnoxiously).
This checklist offers a chance for kids to learn yet another skill – bike maintenance. As they learn how to maintain their bikes, older kids can take on more responsibility, even carrying extra tubes, tools and necessities. Chances are they will begin to bike solo and explore longer routes as they become more comfortable, where being able to handle a puncture is crucial.
Good Habits
The reality is students may not be able to bike to class every day, and may be studying at home. Those natural factors such as proximity to school, weather, the length of days and waking up late will always be there to squash the morning or afternoon joyride. But for much of the year, biking can be an adventure, a good excuse for exercise, and a chance to keep one more car off the road.
Biking skills and habits become ingrained in kids and hopefully will continue into adulthood. If lucky, they may develop a lifelong love for cycling. Most importantly, they will cultivate a resilient mindset, a sense of empowerment, and a greater independence that goes way beyond just biking to school.
Explore School Commuting
Learn more about Commute Options whose mission is promoting safer, healthier and more livable communities through smart transportation options. Its program, Safe Routes to School encourages and educates children and parents on the benefits and safety of biking and walking to school, and creates fun, convenient, and safe opportunities to do so. SRTS created a unique map for each elementary school to show the best route and meeting locations on the way. Many schools also have a “walking school bus” that organizes a group walking or biking commute to school.
We’ve carved out a time and place to protect our children’s right to PLAY.
CURRENT PLAYLAB SCHEDULE: Tuesdays: Redmond @10:30am @ LoveBird Yoga Tuesdays: Bend West @ 1:30pm @Tula Movement Arts Fridays: Sisters@ 10am @ SPRD Look at our website for more locations to come and specific dates for self-care while we PLAY with your children for 3 hours!
541-420-2611 Visit us online at www.together-for-children.org
