Whether your child is going to be starting their school year in front of the screen or in the classroom, it is always important to keep them healthy mentally and physically, especially during this time. If you teach your child healthy habits now, it will provide them with both a prospering and safe future. Here are just a few tips and advice for you parents so that this unprecedented school year will be easier for you and your child’s best!
Take Care Of Your Child’s Mental Health
Since physical health is extremely prioritized right now, it can be easy for us all to forget to take care of our own mental health, as well as our children’s. Your child could be anxious about educational aspects such as wearing a mask during school, not being able to see their friends as much, or even leaving the house after such a long time. However, the earlier you teach your children that it is healthy to talk about your emotions, the more beneficial it will be overall. Although it may be difficult, having an open conversation about these worrying topics and reassuring your child will encourage them to not only maintain their personal health, but the health of others around them as well.
Practice Proper Sanitation In and Out of Your House
When promoting preventive practices for COVID-19, one of the best things you as a parent or caregiver can do is to be a good role model for your child. If you wear your mask, wash your hands, and use hand sanitizer, your child is bound to follow. It is also important to inform your child what these actions can do to protect themselves and those around them, such as their fellow classmates, so that they can fully grasp what is happening around them. If you are able, make hand washing and other sanitation measures a family activity so that not only will your child be staying healthy, but so will your entire family!
Participate In Online Learning If Available
After months of spending time inside with your family, I’m sure most of you parents long for a second alone and find it hard to see any benefits of online learning. However, there is a sense of personalization, pacing, and comfort when learning from home. If your child’s school offers online learning, a personalized schedule is completely open for you and your child to make for their individual pace. Whether they are learning from the couch, their desk, or the dinner table, engaging in online learning can be difficult at times, but with breaks, healthy aspects, and more, your child’s education will flourish right from the screen!
Talk To Your Child About Upcoming Changes In Their Education
Although it is an unprecedented and unknown time for everyone right now, it is important for your child to be informed about what is occurring in the world and how it will impact them personally. Some of the emotions your child may be experiencing may align with your own, so discussing the changes in their education and life overall will not only strengthen your relationship with your child, but keep their mental and physical health strong as well. This conversation you have with your child should be handled with some sort of seriousness, however, no matter what age. If your child can comprehend what their actions and the changes in their future will do for the entire nation, it should be much easier for them to value their own health, as well as those around them.
Ensure That Your Child’s Diet and Daily Routine Is Healthy For Them
No matter how old you are, making a daily routine during your time at home may be the last thing on your list. However, it is in your hands to ensure that your child has educational structure at home since they may not be able to do so themselves. Richard Galllagher, an associate professor within the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU states that “A free-for-all, loose schedule is nice for snow days or other short breaks, but can lead to boredom and a difficult time getting back into the educational routine if it lasts,”. Dr. Gallagher suggests that a beneficial routine for children of all ages when learning at home is “starting with a morning meeting and schedule list, since this is what most teachers do to start the day. Have a list of the subjects and activities for the day, and create 30- to 45-minute blocks of time to work on the subjects that your child takes.”. In between, make sure your child is both moving around and eating healthy to maintain their physical health as well!
