This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
Keeping the Family Healthy in a Post-Pandemic World
As a parent, one of the biggest challenges you’ve been managing is how to let your kid safely be a kid during the Covid-19 pandemic. With a new school year on the horizon, you’re now facing the question of how to keep your kid safe in the classroom.
“As you prepare for your child to return to the classroom, rest assured there are measures you can take to help keep them healthy,” says a family medicine doctor. “Remember: You’re not in this alone. There are resources available, like your child’s primary care doctor, to help you answer questions and provide the resources you need.”
Here are the family medicine doctor’s recommendations to ensure you send your kids back to school safely.
Schedule Your Child’s Covid-19 Vaccination
Being fully vaccinated is one of the best measures you can take to keep you and your family safe. If you haven’t received your Covid-19 vaccine yet, schedule yours today. And do the same for your child, now that eligibility is opened to adolescents 12 and up.
Expanding the age range for the vaccine is a huge step toward limiting the spread of the virus. If your child is 12, or will soon be 12, it’s time to consider scheduling his or her vaccine. If you have questions or concerns about your child being vaccinated, consult with your pediatrician.
Reinforce the Everyday Precautions
You know the signs and symptoms of Covid-19, as well as what to do if you think your child might be sick. In addition, you’ve likely spent the entire summer reminding your kids about the everyday precautions they need to take to prevent getting sick.
But, for all of your efforts, you’ve probably also caught your kids standing way too close to other people, leaving their masks in the car or at home, and forgetting to wash their hands after touching common surfaces.
As you prepare to send your kids back into the classroom, be sure to reinforce the everyday Covid-19 precautions they will need to keep in mind, as well as what makes these precautions so effective.
Social distancing is still important, even if your child is vaccinated. The most likely way for Covid-19 to spread is from person to person – primarily between people who come into close contact with one another. And, while Covid-19 vaccines provide strong protection from severe illness, we are still learning just how effective these vaccinations are at reducing transmission and against the variants currently circulating. Also, keep in mind that an infected individual can be asymptomatic but still contagious.
Wearing a mask helps contain any potentially infectious respiratory droplets that may be released while breathing, talking or coughing – especially when social distancing is more challenging and even if the person doesn’t yet know they’re sick.
Washing your hands is still so important and can help limit the risk of getting sick.
Know and Understand the Safety Measures Being Implemented
No matter how many precautions are being taken at your child’s school, gathering a group of kids into a classroom will come with some level of risk. On the other hand, however, experts agree that children learn best when in a classroom. Given the importance of classroom learning, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published guidelines to help keep schools as safe as possible during the pandemic.
Schools should be proactively reaching out to you about these safety measures, but make sure you have the following questions answered:
- Have teachers and staff been vaccinated?
- Will hand-washing opportunities be frequent and hand sanitizer be readily available?
- Have cleaning services been increased and how often will high-touch surfaces be disinfected?
- Are students and staff who feel sick required to stay at home?
- What is the plan if someone at the school tests positive for Covid-19?
- What about sports and other activities?
Listen to Your Child’s Concerns
As a parent, you play an incredibly important role as not only a trusted source of information, but also as a confidante. It’s important your child feels comfortable expressing any concerns or anxiety he or she may have about returning to school during the pandemic, so try to be as available and prepared as possible. Being vulnerable is hard, though, so you may need to be the one to initiate the conversation if the topic doesn’t come up on its own.
Whether your child is concerned about having to wear a mask all day or what might happen if there’s a confirmed case at school, make sure you’re listening intently, empathizing often and helping your child cope with his or her feelings in a reassuring manner.
Schedule an Annual Wellness Exam
The pandemic has changed the way we do a lot of things, but it hasn’t changed the importance in on your child’s – and your own – overall health and wellness.
A healthy immune system starts with a healthy kid, meaning checkups with your family doctor may be more important than ever right now. “Your child’s primary care doctor is an amazing resource and can provide insight into how to keep them safe as they return to face-to-face classes with their teachers and peers,” says the family medicine doctor, as you’re scheduling your child’s checkup, it may be time to schedule your own annual visit.
“Even if you’re feeling your best, it’s important to remember that having a primary care doctor who knows you and your health baseline is important for when you aren’t feeling well.”
The opinions expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of LPL Financial.
