Guide For Parents To Beat COVID-19

Back to School in 2021

Per the President's directive, our children are schedule to return to school though COVID-19 is still with us. The children are excited about seeing their peers again. However, parents and school managers are anxious to get it right and ensure no child gets infected in school.

We have a collective responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of our children and other children within the school family.

Parents, here are some points to help in managing this unusual situation.

Health and Safety Discussion

WEARING OF NOSE MASK

a. Engage your child at home and discuss the importance of wearing the face mask whilst in school.

b. Practice wearing the face mask at home to empower the child.

c. Teach and practice how to remove and wear the face mask properly.

2. HEALTH AND HAND HYGIENE:

a. Discuss the importance of hand washing and use of sanitizer.

b. Practice proper hand washing at home as often as possible to sensitize your child and make hand washing feel normal.

c. Discuss the fact that they should not touch surfaces with their hands.

d. Discuss the need to avoid rubbing their eyes, picking their nose, biting their nails or putting their fingers in their mouth to protect them from COVID-19 infection.

e. Provide hand sanitizers in their school bag and tell them when to use it.

f. Provide pocket tissue for the child's use when they have the urge to sneeze or cough. They should dispose of it and wash their hands.

3. MAINTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCING WHEN WITH FRIENDS:

a. Reiterate the importance of not hugging.

b. Assure them they can chat with their friends but should be wearing a face mask and walk beside their friends whilst chatting. They should not stand facing each other.

c. Always measure and be sure they are standing at an arm's length from their peers.

4. BOOST IMMUNE SYSTEM:

a. Feed your child healthy food and ensure adequate daily intake of fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C.

b. Breakfast is a must before they get to school.

c. Each child should sleep for about 10 hours.

d. Ensure they get adequate rest at home, sleep early and wake up rested.

5. MENTAL WELLBEING:

a. Reassure them they will be safe in school so far as they follow laid down regulation.

b. Allow your child to ask questions and answer to the best of your ability.

c. Minimize complaints and negative comments especially your dislike of the school going process.

d. Our children are anxious so let us allay their fears and not fuel them.

BACK FROM SCHOOL PROTOCOL

Educate and supervise your child, remove all clothes and put them in the laundry basket for washing.
Ensure cloth face mask is removed to be washed and ironed before next use.
Disinfect school bag, meal bags, laptop and school supplies with home disinfectants or alcohol hand rub in a cloth or tissue.
Child should bath as soon as uniforms are off before s/he wears home clothes or sits down to eat.

NOTE AND SUPPORT 'THE STAY HOME IF UNWELL' POLICY OF THE SCHOOL.

This will be implemented to the letter so we have a responsibility not to send an unwell child to school.
Know that your child, even if s/he does not have COVID-19, has some reduced immunity when unwell so will be at increased risk of contracting it if virus is lurking in the school.