Talk to your child about how germs spread
By now, kids have been living with COVID-19 for a long time. They may still feel confused or scared by what they are hearing on the news. If you haven’t yet done so, describe the virus in simple terms. For example, you could say, “COVID-19 is germs that make people sick. And, they can spread from one person to the next.”
If someone they know gets sick, separate the illness from the person,
It is a great opportunity to teach your kids kindness and compassion. Emphasize it’s the virus that is the problem and that although the people who have it can make us sick, they are victims, not villains.
Teach kids about proper hygiene
Kids (and adults!) are masters of the quick hand rinse, yet that’s not enough to kill germs.
Work with them to practice scrubbing as they wash their hands. Make sure they rub their palms together and interlace their fingers, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Use a tune like the “happy birthday” or alphabet song to demonstrate the length of time they should wash their hands.
Then talk to them about how to avoid touching surfaces like door handles and handrails. And remind them to wash up if they do.
You can even make it easier for them to stay healthy by:
- providing personal school supplies and
- packing utensils to use with their lunch so they don’t have to eat with their hands
Start a morning schedule
Wake your kids up at what will be their regular morning wake-up time. For older children, help them set an alarm clock so they can take responsibility for their own morning wake-up routine.
Eat a healthy breakfast
By now, we all know kids need a nutritious breakfast so they are ready to take on the day. Incorporate healthy breakfast options like apples, bananas, and whole grain toast. This will give them the energy they need to be mentally alert all day, instead of the mid-morning crash they’ll get from sugary cereals.
Set out clothes the night before
Avoid frantic mornings by having your child choose what he or she will wear the night before. If you have a younger child, let him or her pick from a couple different options. Get into a routine of doing this even before school starts so your child is in the habit of planning ahead.
Make dedicated TV-free time
Start getting into a homework routine now by having TV-free time during after-school hours. Use this time for a learning activity like reading a book or even talking about your day together.
Play board or word games
Playing games over the summer is a great way to keep you child’s mind engaged and focused on building learning skills. This will help make sure your child is prepared when classes start and make the back to school transition a smoother one.
Stick to a bedtime routine
Early bedtimes usually go out the window over the summer break, but young minds need plenty of sleep to be ready to learn. Get back into a set bedtime routine now so your child isn’t up late the night before the first day of school.
Read every day
Learning shouldn’t stop over the summer. Each day, take at least 30 minutes to sit with your child and read together. This will help keep him or her engaged with learning and in the routine of daily schoolwork.
