Online schooling has burdened children, parents, and teachers in different ways.
On the one hand, parents and teachers are juggling work, childcare, caregiving, and household chores. And on the other hand, our children are coping with mental anxiety, isolation, and learning challenges. Further, some children may not have had access to the technology required for online learning.
Undoubtedly, our children stand to benefit the most from in-person schooling.
However, with the arrival of the delta variant of COVID-19, parents are concerned about sending their children back to school. The delta variant is 2x more contagious than the previous coronavirus strains.
It can be confusing to understand the steps to take to ensure your children are safe at school and home. We share our top tips below to help you and your family stay healthy in these pandemic times.
- Check if Your Child’s School is following the Mandatory COVID-19 Safety Measures & Air Quality Checks
You can always check with your children’s school authorities if the measures recommended by the California Department of Public Health and Santa Clara County Public Health department. are in place.
Masks are required on school premises except for medical conditions. In which case, staff and students can wear a non-restrictive alternative to a mask as long as their condition permits them to do so.
Other recommended prevention and management strategies include handwashing, screening testing to identify cases and outbreaks, contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation, cleaning and disinfection of school premises.
The Santa Clara County Public Health department recommends moving passive and longer outdoor activities indoors for unusually sensitive children and teenagers when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is above 100. In which case, the windows and doors should be kept closed as well. When the AQI is above 150, it recommends canceling or rescheduling outdoor activities or moving all activities (active, passive, shorter, longer) indoors.
- Model and Practice Safe and Hygienic Habits at Home
As parents, we can ensure our children’s safety by being their role models and helping them practice healthy habits at home.
Below are some best health practices you can start at home:
- Indoor masking: It can be uncomfortable to wear masks for an extended period indoors. Begin the practice at home by wearing masks indoors along with your children for a short period and then gradually extending the time. Also, demonstrate to them how to handle their masks. Teach them never to touch the inside of the mask when putting it on or to take it off and remove their masks with the straps only.
- Hand hygiene: Wash your hands front, back, and in between the sides of your fingers for at least 20 seconds.
If your child or any family member shows symptoms of COVID-19 or fever 100 degrees and above, they should stay home. Consult their doctor immediately.
- Keep your Child Prepared for Safety and Health Emergencies at School
In addition to shopping for the regular back-to-school supplies, purchase an extra mask so your children can carry two masks every day to school with one as a backup if they lose one, and a zipped bag to store them safely when not in use. Also, make sure your child carries their own water bottle, lunch box, and sanitizer (for children above 5 years).
Educate your children about wearing their backpacks safely, as improper use can lead to back injury and pain. Teach them to wear their school bags high on their back and use both the straps over their shoulders as sliding the backpack on one shoulder can cause back pain, injury, and bad posture.
Let your children memorize important emergency contact numbers or have an emergency card in their backpack. In the case of older children, have them stored on their phones in case of a health emergency.
- Practice Lifestyle Management to Improve Well-being of Students and Families
Make a family pledge to encourage each other to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, exercise, and sleep.
Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring. Cooking can be a bonding activity for the whole family. Younger children can help with simple recipes like a Fruit and Yogurt Parfait, while the older children can bake healthy treats such as Oats and Raisins Cookies. You can make healthier versions of popular takeaway foods and try out different cuisines with your family. Eating together as a family is also beneficial for your mental wellness.
Your child can play sports or do exercises at school provided all the recommended COVID-19 safety measures are in place. At home, there are several ways to keep them physically active such as outdoor walks and runs, dancing, yoga, and other indoor exercises.
A neglected aspect of health is sleep. Clock in at least 7-9 hours of sleep every day, and make it a habit to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
You can maintain a log of each family member’s food, exercise, and sleep diary. Check on each others’ progress and motivate one another along the way.
You can download health apps such as Google Fit for Android users and Apple Health for iOS users and stay on track with all your family’s health goals.
- Stay Up-to-Date on all Immunizations and Examinations
Here are some latest COVID-19 report findings:
- 99% of recent deaths from COVID-19 are among the unvaccinated.
- 97% of the current COVID-19 hospitalization cases are those who are unvaccinated.
The CDC lists vaccination as the top public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing our vaccination rates would enable our children to experience in-person schooling, extracurricular activities, and sports safely.
At Los Gatos Doc, we suggest everyone in your family from 12 and above get vaccinated to keep our children safe at home and in schools.
COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be safe and effective. They are free for eligible candidates in the United States regardless of their insurance and immigration status. You can visit your nearest walk-in clinic for the vaccine. You can also visit the State of California’s website or call 1-833-422-4255 to schedule your appointment.
In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine for eligible adults, we recommend the annual flu shot and annual physicals or wellness exam for your family.
You can discuss the recommended vaccines, health checkups, timelines, schedules, risks, and benefits of adult family members with Dr. Arun Villivalam, the best family doctor in Los Gatos.
Stay Informed, Follow the Safety Measures, and Be Safe
Going back to school is one of the ways to get back to our normal pre-pandemic times. Follow the recommended COVID-19 prevention strategies described above both at home and school to keep you and your family safe and healthy.
Disclaimer: We routinely draw upon public health resources to inform our write-ups. Information in this article may be drawn up from multiple public health sources, including:
- Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
- Medline Plus
- National Institutes of Health
- American Medical Association
- American Association of Family Physicians
- Mayo Clinic
- Family Doctor