Back-to-school season is here, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Chances are, it’s been difficult watching your school-age kids cooped up indoors over the last five months, especially if you’ve had to work from home while juggling their education, care and wellbeing. Many schools are now reopening amid the pandemic, which has parents worried—is it safe? And if they have no choice (which many parents don’t), how can they keep their children as safe as possible this school year?
Here are our best health tips during the pandemic. If you’re in need of holistic medicine in Humble, TX, make sure to stop by or call A Gift of Health today:
- Know what kinds of safety measures are happening at school: Before your child steps foot in the school halls, make sure that you have (in writing, preferably) an idea of what the school intends to do to keep your kids safe. Will they be enforcing masks? Staggering recess? Providing online learning? What happens if a child tests positive? What happens if a teacher tests positive? Will there be freely available sanitizer and handwashing stations? How will activities be handled?
- Make sure your kids understand basic COVID-19 prevention methods: You’ve probably already taught your kids about the importance of wearing masks, washing hands thoroughly, not touching their face and keeping a distance of six feet from others. Now is the time to conduct a review and make sure they remember, understand and have some key phrases to use if they’re encouraged to exhibit unhealthy behaviors at school. You can also talk to your child about how to politely, calmly and firmly tell an adult that they’re unable to or uncomfortable with participating.
- Get an annual checkup: Making sure your child’s health is in good shape before they go back to school is also important. Take your kid to their annual checkup—and have your doctor reiterate the importance of following protective measures. Keeping their immune systems strong is the first line of defense.
- Talk to your children about the pandemic and their worries: Of course, all of these dire warnings have an effect on kids, too, so it’s worth sitting down with them and asking them how they feel. Explain that most people are worried about the virus, but that scientists and doctors are confident that we can slow the spread by taking preventative measures. They will probably have questions for you, so make sure they know that if you don’t know the answer already, you’ll do your best to find out.
- Trust your gut: Finally, trust your gut when it comes to your child’s safety. Whether you decide to send your child back to the classroom, or you need to keep them home for their (and your) health, the buck stops with you. You’re the expert on what your child needs, so rely on your parental instinct.
When you’re interested in holistic medicine in Humble, TX to keep your immune system working well, visit A Gift of Health to check out our selection of supplements and more.