Although schools may take students’ temperatures at the door, it is always best for you to know that your kid does not have a fever before he even steps out of your door. You can make this a ritual every day, so you don’t forget.
If you want further reassurance, then you can invest on an oxygen saturation monitor. This will measure the oxygen in the blood, a decrease in saturation of which is usually an early sign of CoViD-19 infection, even before one becomes symptomatic.
If your home is just close enough to school to walk or take a bike, then don’t let your kid ride the school bus. You can arrange for him to go to school with other socially distanced kids and have an older child or a parent lead them.
While schools may provide contact-free cafeteria food, it might be safer if you will have him bring food you prepared yourself. At this time, it is also best if you will forgo using reusable lunch bags or boxes and use those brown bags instead. As they can easily be disposed of, they are more sanitary to use.
Kids can become super carriers and spreaders of viruses. So, it is best if you have your kid take a shower and get a change of clothes as soon as they arrive home from school. Even if your kid is very cautious about washing his hands and not touching his face, you can never be too sure.
Computers, laptops, tablets, iPhones, iPads, and other electronic devices are used most often and could be some of the dirtiest stuff we keep around the house and ourselves. So, it is important that you provide protective cases for your kid’s devices and have him clean these when he gets home. Just be sure to read the instructions on how to clean these, so they will not be harmed in any way and teach your kid how.
Homework is part of a student’s life and with this comes books and other supplies they need to bring into your home. To ensure your kid’s safety, make sure to wipe these down
before they are used. This especially vital if you need to help him with his schoolwork and will be handling his school stuff and books as well. Once your kid is done with his homework and you are done helping him, wash your hands before moving on to other chores.
Have your kid leave his school shoes outside, then have him take off his clothes and take a shower as soon as he arrives. His clothes should be placed in a hamper containing only clothes worn outside and if possible, should be laundered immediately. This will help to ensure that the germs your kid might have gotten from school won’t get into your home.
Although social distancing is widely used these days, this does not necessarily mean actually distancing yourself or your kids from others socially. You can still have your kids see a few of their friends who have been practicing physical distancing or have been quarantining themselves effectively. You can even allow them to walk or bike to and from school together as long as they have learned how to be together, but still maintain a safe distance from each other.
It is important for your kids to understand that even if we are living in uncertain times, it is not a cause for bullying or humiliating those who may have contracted the virus or have family members who are sick. Lead by example. Show them how to treat people the right way.
There is no easy way around getting your kids back to school safely, except to exercise stringent measures every day. With the tips mentioned above, maybe you will breathe easier knowing that you have done all you can to keep your kids protected in school and at home.
