With the summer break halfway through, parents are now preparing safety checklists to help their wards get ready for school in September.
While some parents juggling work and homeschooling welcome the reopening of schools, others worry about the risks involved with a return to in-person lessons, particularly when there are immunocompromised members in the household.
Indian parent Zoya Shaikh is thankful that her seven-year-old daughter is a careful child. “She has made it a habit to sanitise, clean and generally not touch things around. She also knows that she is supposed to cough and sneeze into her elbows. Social distancing now is almost engrained in her but having said that it’s going to be difficult when schools start. Kids have been missing their friends and I am sure they would want to hug and play with each other once they meet.”
“It’s going to be hard to maintain social distancing, no matter how much we train them and we can’t anticipate everything. Therefore, I have been talking to her often and she seems to have an understanding of what to do and what not to do,” she added.
Abundant conversations will help educate children, says Pakistani expat Uzma Tabassum, a teacher and a parent of two children. “I sit with my children for at least half an hour every day explaining the importance of wearing masks, need for maintaining social distance from friends. I also talk to them about making sure not to touch masks frequently and to sanitise hands often, especially when the schools reopen.
“I am preparing a safety kit – containing hand sanitiser, hand soap and a pack of tissues – to keep in their school bags. I’ve asked them not to use school soap and instead carry their own soaps. I am trying to prepare them psychologically for the return to the new normal in schools,” she added.
Canadian expat Mousa Nimer feels the last few months have been transformative for their seven-year-old boy. “He has become more aware of the importance of maintaining a hygienic lifestyle. He is aware that masks should be worn on a daily basis when leaving the house. He doesn’t touch anything unless he is wearing gloves and always keeps a distance from other people and washes his hands regularly.
“For when he returns to school, we as parents are confident and are not too worried about the measures, thanks to his school’s great transparency and communication practices,” added the parent.
Leo Renaud, father of a kindergartener, is using cartoon characters and superheroes to help his child get used to donning face masks. “I bought my son a Spiderman mask that he loves wearing. I also keep repeating in front of him the importance of washing hands by doing it myself and showing him interesting videos. I am optimistic that his teachers will take this further and repeat relevant instructions, once schools reopen in the new academic year. ”
© Khaleej Times
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