many parents are struggling with back-to-school decisions right now. things will look quite different this fall, but experts suggest that the benefits of reopening our schools outweigh the risks, so perhaps the transition back to school is less scary than we think.
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with adequate personal protective equipment, proper hand hygiene, and environmental cleaning, schools can safely reopen this fall according to a report by pediatric experts. the report also suggests that returning to school can help “optimize the overall health and welfare of children and youth,” which is especially critical for kids who are more prone to anxiety or who have experienced changes in mood or behaviour as a result of the pandemic. and while every school board must follow the mandated health and safety protocols to ensure it continues its efforts to slow the spread of the virus, in some parts of the country, class size will remain the same. many parents worry about having 30 kids and a teacher crammed in one room during the school day, but that said, infection rates are dropping right across the country.
the pandemic has had an impact on our mental health , and many people are struggling with stress and anxiety. it’s no different for parents, but your feelings can adversely affect your child’s attitude, resilience and self-esteem.
“parents who experience anxiety and stress can transmit these symptoms to their child, and both can suffer from feeling unsettled with the idea of going back to school and the changes,” says mary zamil, registered psychotherapist at positive kids in toronto.
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there are also books that can help your children focus on what is so great about going to school which can help make worries seem a bit smaller. zamil recommends: i am too absolutely small for school by lauren child, the things i love about school by trace moroney the kissing hand by audrey penn, going to school by anna civardi and maisy goes to preschool by lucy cousins.
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