While this is usually a welcome milestone, this time you may be feeling a little nervous about your child going back to school.
But with a few simple preparations, you can make sure they enjoy a safe return to school. We show you how in our safe back to school guide.
1. Get them vaccinated
One of the most effective things you can do to protect your child from getting Covid-19 is to get them vaccinated.
While most children either don’t show symptoms with a Covid-19 infection or their symptoms are mild, some may become very unwell or suffer from long-term complications.
That’s why vaccination is so important. It can also help reduce the spread of the virus and save your child’s school from having to close.
As long as your child is aged at least five, they can get a Covid vaccine. You can find a clinic near you and book an appointment here.
2. Remind them of the rules
Remind your child of the rules around Covid and the return to school.
For example, older children may be required to wear a face mask to school. Make your child of any age aware of the need to physically distance around other people.
It may help if you explain to your child how viruses are spread in simple terms. You can say that:
- Covid-19 spreads by breathing in air close to a person with the infection. This is because the infected person breathes out droplets containing the virus.
- These droplets may also enter the body by landing on the eyes, mouth or nose after coughs or sneezes.
- Touching your eyes, mouth or nose when your hands have the virus on them can also cause infection.
- Sometimes you may pick up the virus from contaminated surfaces.
Knowing this information will help them understand why the rules are there and encourage them to keep them.
3. Practise handwashing
Especially if you have a young child, it’s important to practise a good handwashing technique.
Supervise your child next time they wash their hands. Here’s a good handwashing routine:
- Wet hands with clean, running water.
- Apply soap and work up a lather.
- Lather the backs of hands, between fingers and under the nails.
- Make sure you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Rinse hands thoroughly under clean, running water.
- Dry hands with a clean towel.
You can also encourage your child to use hand sanitiser between handwashing. Give them a small bottle of sanitiser to keep in their school bag so they can use it on the go.
4. Encourage them to talk about their feelings
It’s important for children not only to be physically safe but to feel emotionally safe too.
They may have worries and concerns about returning to school after the long holidays and being exposed to infection.
Listen when they express these feelings. If they tend to keep their worries to themselves, set aside some one-to-one time when they can do a quiet activity with you. When they feel relaxed, they will be more likely to open up.
5. Offer a healthy lifestyle
Making sure your child eats a healthy diet will help them build a strong immune system and stay protected from infection.
Give them plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables for vitamin C. Whole grains in the form of whole-grain bread, pasta and rice will offer plenty of fibre to keep their digestive system healthy. And for strong bones, make sure they consume plenty of dairy products for calcium.
You may also want to offer a probiotic designed for children to help support your child’s health and wellbeing.
And don’t forget physical activity. Encourage your child to exercise for around an hour a day to reap the benefits. They could practise sports they love like swimming, football or riding their bike. Or they could simply burn off some energy at the park by running around with their friends.
A combination of a healthy diet and plenty of exercise will help your child achieve natural immunity to infections.
Make it a safe return to school and work
Make back to school 2022 a safe and happy experience by following our health and safety tips.
By practising good hygiene and respecting the rules, your child can take a proactive part in their own safety at school.
And know that at FeverMates, we’re here to help you protect yourself and your family. So why not browse our complete collection of health and wellbeing products to ensure a safe and worry-free return to school?