Heading Back to School with Covid-19 – Handling Big and Small Feelings and Different Perspectives

All Feelings are Valid!

School will be starting soon and we, as parents, are experiencing an overwhelming amount of emotions and self-doubt. Is it safe to send children back to school? Am I a bad parent for sending my child back to school during a pandemic? Can I work remotely with my children at home? Can I afford extra childcare expenses if I go back to work? Am I making my children vulnerable? Is this the best decision? Should I feel guilty for craving my own time for personal self-care while they are at school? On top of it all, are you finding yourself arguing with your partner about what is the best decision for your family, for your child and for your health? Has this become a family matter, where these feelings of anxiety are also mixed with anger and frustration?

Those are real questions and concerns I hear from families as a parent practitioner and educator. Let me start by saying, your feelings are valid. When you are making these decisions, the best decision is the one that is respected by you and your family. It does not make you good or bad parent to decide to send your child back to school or to keep them at home.

Feeling anxious, stressed and, at times, depressed is normal. No matter how big or small these feelings are, all real and all valid.

Let’s talk about what is happening to ensure the safe return of our children back to school. Moreover, let’s look at what we can do together to help you address the feelings your family may currently be experiencing. 

Is it safe for my child to go back to childcare?

There isn’t a simple answer. Going back to childcare will look different for each family. We want to emphasize the importance of not putting social interaction and play on hold, just as no one should put their health on hold.

If you look at just the facts, you may feel safer about your child going back:

• Fewer infections– The rate of infection has decreased significantly.
• Required precautions– Every facility is prepared to exercise an abundance of caution. This includes social distancing, wearing masks, proper screening measures on entry to ensure both the child and family are symptom free.
• Following the guidelines of the Ministry of Education and local public health, more frequent sanitization of classrooms and other common areas, and symptom screening throughout the day has been put in place
• Lower risk in children– COVID-19 carries an exceptionally low risk of serious illness in children especially young, healthy children. It’s possible that children are less likely to spread the virus to others, although more research is needed on this topic. Families with higher-risk loved ones at home should consider the risk of kids attending school and childcare and talk to their doctor about any concerns.
• Careful watching– The real risk is to older members of the community such as faculty and staff and contacts of children outside the childcare, like grandparents. This is why public health and school officials are watching infection rates and other information carefully and may advise changes to school plans if the situation in the community changes.

How can I help my child feel less anxious about going back to school?

First, do your best to calm your own anxiety—schools are putting many measures in place to create as safe an environment as possible. There are several coping strategies experts recommend to help your child navigate COVID-19 and what it means for their daily life. Start with the following:

Personal Self-Care: Give yourself break. Start with meditation in the morning or a mini yoga session. Focus on deep breathing. This will help you get control your anxiety and emotions and bring a sense of calm. What you think or manifest is an energy you are placing around yourself. This is why it is important for the entire family, including children, to practice meditation. Children love yoga too.

Building Independence - Time to cut the cord. Get your chid accustomed to being apart from you. Start small. For about thirty minutes a day, allow them to play alone in their own space. Gradually allow them more and more time, until you are at an hour or more. Our children do not need to be with us 24/7. You can have personal self-care time.

• Encouragement - Remind your child the virus does not make healthy kids sick, but they need to be careful just like everyone else. Tell them this is a team effort and we are all in this together. 
  
  
• Healthy habits – Educate your kids on the importance of wearing masks, frequent hand washing and social distancing, especially when inside. Practice makes perfect, so use the rest of summer to start these healthy habits now.
  • Some fun activities can be decorating masks by using stickers and coloring sheet.
  • Printing PPE outfit and having your child to color.
  • Making mini stories about going back to school and what they will see.

• “New normal”– To reduce spread, children will spend much more time in just one group or class, known as heart bubbles, will not be able to move as freely through childcare facilities, the same practices are in place for the educators.

• Open communication– Reassure your child and give them honest and simple answers to their questions at an age-appropriate level. You may say, “We are doing some new things to keep safe just like we wear seat belts and bike helmets.” 

• Routine – Going to childcare and seeing friends on a schedule will help form healthy social skills which helps our little one for their future growth.

What else should I know or ask about precautions schools are taking against COVID-19?

It is important to trust the system. Ontario childcare is strictly regulated under CCEYA Act (Ministry of Education. The childcare sectors have also gone through intense training and so have the staff. We are all in this together, like a village, to protect our children. Trusting each other and having open dialogues are most important now.

For the new academic year and beyond, please keep the following in mind:

• Do not delay care – Schedule check-ups and vaccines as recommended by your pediatrician. This includes yearly flu shots or necessary vaccines for any preventable illness to make schools even safer.
• Be prepared for absences – Most childcare will have much stricter criteria for exclusion from school and longer times required to stay at home.
  • Any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will require staying home or being promptly sent home.
  • If your pediatrician has reason to believe your child has COVID-19, he or she may need to isolate for 10 days.
• Please be patient – It is important to connect and have an open conversation with your child’s school. Ensure to connect with their social workers or therapists if you feel anxious and need more support. Your feelings are normal.

Parenting is a journey and we are always learning and growing. The most important part is to give yourself a good pat on the shoulder and know you are doing your best. 

If you have any questions, concerns, are feeling overwhelmed or thinking of a therapy session for your family and little ones, seek a professional to help you come up with special techniques which best work for your family.

Parenting is life’s most rewarding gift. Enjoy every second of it. These days will pass in a blink of an eye. Before you know it, our toddlers will be adults, making decisions for their families.