Before this last school year came to a close, many schools across the country were already announcing that they would be open for all students come Fall 2021. The CDC director, Rochelle Walensky, also said the same thing to the news in April, stating that “schools should be full-fledged in person and all of our children are back in the classroom”. So what does the outlook appear to be for schools returning to normalcy and teaching in person? There are going to be a few things you as a parent should do to help your children prepare, and there are going to be a lot of safety and health concerns that schools will continue to undertake. 

Preparing Your Kids

Whether this is the first time your kids are going to be in a physical school or they’re returning back to what they know, it’s still important to talk to your kids about the upcoming school year. See how they feel about it: if they’re nervous, excited, scared, whatever those emotions may be and help them to focus on the positives, and what lies ahead.  If they haven’t been to a physical school yet, it may be time to start talking to them about social distancing while being in a more enclosed space, and while they’re around friends. Tell them what your and the school’s expectations are going to be come September, and how they need to keep these thoughts in their mind every day. The same will go for your children who were used to school before. It’s also important for them to get reminders about how the rules are going to be different, and to obey whatever distancing rules there may be, among others. Make sure they understand that it’s for their safety and benefit, and that it won’t last forever. 

The School’s Preparations

Many parents may feel like it’s still too soon to be sending children back, full numbers, to schools come September. But there have been a lot of strides made in the last few months to ensure the safety of all school staff and children are in full effect. Many teachers and other school staff will already be fully vaccinated by then, and many students over the age of 12 years old may also be vaccinated. There will most likely be mask rules as well as social distancing when applicable, to help deter any spreading of germs due to proximity. Many schools may even take a more drastic approach, conducting frequent Covid tests to ensure negativity across the entire school. Others may be able to take temperatures as students enter the school, depending on the size of the student population and staffing. 

The Road Ahead

No matter what preparations and cautions are being used, once school begins, it will be a new chapter in your children’s lives that should be highly anticipated and celebrated. Many children are looking forward to spending more time with others and learning more hands-on, and this way of teaching can always open new doors for your kids’ learning.  

HomeschoolFacts.com has a complete list of support groups to help support you in your homeschooling endeavors and connect with homeschoolers near you.   You can search the list of support groups here: https://www.homeschoolfacts.com/homeschool-support-groups.html

Katie Kyzivat