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• HOW COVID-19 CHANGED SCHOOLS
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Since Covid-19 reared its ugly head, schools and education settings have looked a bit different. Where before parents could walk their child right into their classroom, new restrictions in place do not allow this to happen. This can be especially hard with younger children and those who find separation difficult. Even the simple act of talking to your child’s teacher is now not an easy thing to do.

It’s helpful to have a goodbye routine in place that can be easily done in the car or front of the school before drop off. This could be a kiss, hug, have a great day, to send them off to school happy.

Have something similar in place for pick up to show that you missed them. Playing upbeat music, singing and talking about positive things before school also gets your child in a good mood and this is important as the way we start our day can reflect how the rest of our day will go.

If children are anxious about going in to school by themselves, these short, positive morning routines can help them get their mind off it.

PARENT-PARENT COMMUNICATION

For schools to remain safe and hygienic places there are many protocols they need to follow. For instance, if you or your child are unwell forget about going anywhere near the school, which is just common sense anyway.

But it may be harder for parents to make friends with other parents as adults are not allowed to gather in groups in or around school grounds, car parks, school gates and outside classrooms, due to physical distancing rules. This is different as before and after school drop off/pick up was a good time for parents to chat and make friends, but this is no longer possible.

Try to exchange phone numbers or emails and communicate with other parents this way instead. You can also organise play dates for after school or on weekends so you can talk to each other and your child can socialise outside of school.

PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION

Parents are also being encouraged to use stop, drop and go options where possible so this means not being able to chat with your child’s teacher.

These informal chats in the early years allow parents to check in on how their child’s day was, especially if they had a rough morning before school, as well as let the teacher know about any changes, etc. happening at home that may be affecting a child’s behaviour.

Make sure you know the best way to contact your child’s teacher, whether this is by email, Seesaw/Schoolzine or other app messages, or even a note sent in. This way you can have any concerns addressed immediately and not leave you guessing or stewing over things.

A positive relationship with your child’s teacher is important as when the connection between home and school is solid, and everyone is on the same page, your child’s success at school improves.

Make sure if your child is starting Prep, you provide their teacher with a Kindergarten Transition Statement, as this will help them to know your child better. And more importantly talk to their teacher about your goals for your child, your child’s interests, how your child learns best and what motivates them. This can all be very helpful to a teacher and allow them to connect better with your child.

PARENTS AND SCHOOL

It is important for parents to be involved in their child’s schooling, however this may look a little different due to Covid-19 restrictions.

I would normally recommend parents volunteering to listen to children read, help in the tuck shop and attend school events whenever possible. This may not be allowed at present, so make sure you keep informed on what is going on in the school by reading newsletters, messages sent home and having conversations with other parents.

Your child needs to see you taking a positive interest in their schooling and hearing how important it is to attend each day for their learning.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

Practising personal hygiene with your child at home has always been important, but with Covid-19 make sure they know how to correctly wash their hands with soap and water, and hand sanitiser. They can sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in their head, as this is about the amount of time they need to be washing/sanitising their hands.

Cleaning hands regularly needs to become second nature to our children. They need to know that hand washing/sanitising is done after going to the toilet, playing outside and before eating. If this is done regularly at home, it makes it easier for them to remember at school as well.

Another thing to practise is covering your mouth or nose when you cough or sneeze. It is best if they can do these things into a tissue, but when not available, show them the correct technique for coughing or sneezing into their arm.

They do this by folding one arm across their body so that one hand is touching the opposite shoulder and then coughing or sneezing into the crook of their arm.

Please don’t teach them to cough or sneeze into their hands, as they then have germs on their hands to spread everywhere. If they do happen to cough or sneeze into their hands, make sure they know to wash them straight away.

On the topic of hands covered in germs, practise not touching your face with your hands. Show them other ways to do this if they need to, like using their shoulder or a tissue.

Children, in general, love to be close to one another and this can be hard to monitor in schools where all the children are constantly next to each other. When you say, ‘Stay 1.5 metres away from each other’, young children don’t understand this; they have no idea how far 1.5 metres is. Instead get them to practise taking three big steps away from people. This is something they can understand, ‘Three big steps away’, and again, practice makes perfect.