Parents and students alike are preparing for face-to-face classes again, but making sure our kids are up to date on vaccines is just one way to keep them protected in the classroom setting. Here are five more ways to ensure a successful start to the most anticipated time of year. 

Bedtime doesn’t have to be a struggle. If a child has had a full day at school, it is even more important to establish a quiet nighttime routine after a nutritious dinner. Many parents might not realize how important sleeping schedules are for our children. Keeping a strict schedule for sleeping will not only provide the opportunity for rest, but it also sets the stage for the learning that will happen during the next day.

Of course, as children get a bit older, the amount of sleep that they require will diminish, but just remember that the guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics state that kids aged 6-12 years old should have anywhere from 9-12 hours of sleep. Furthermore, making sure that your child eats dinner about 3 hours before it’s time for bed encourages proper digestion, and slowing down with a bath or a shower and eliminating screen time 2 hours before bed will enable them to wind down properly for the night.

Keeping the room cool, choosing fun jammies, and reading a bedtime story also provides the right atmosphere for the best sleep. Try incorporating the diffusing of essential oils or using sleepy-time lavender lotions and bath oils for the smaller kiddos too. 

Elementary students do well with routines and clear expectations. Sharing what is expected each day helps children meet the daily demands that have shifted since Zoom school was replaced with hybrid settings.

Explanations of when it is okay to remove masks, how to keep their hygiene kits handy, and the importance of keeping socially distant will prevent undue risks and the spread of the virus.

Just like you would prepare your kiddos for sports by buying all the right equipment, preparing for school includes making sure they have their uniforms, school books, backpacks, and lunch boxes. 

Selecting the right bag for your student of any age includes considering everything they will be carrying back and forth to school. Quality bags can often be handed down and are usually washable with compartments and features that even big kids will love.

Lunch bags are a vital component to making sure your child will have enough energy to make it through the day. Keeping sandwiches, fruit, and drinks cool and fresh allows for happy tummies full of goodness.

But more than that, the right containers for food are even more important. Sustainable options, portioned containers, and seals that do not leak make packing a cold lunch easy. It takes the guesswork out of packing meals and snacks even if parents are doing the task in the early morning hours.

As the rainy days are fast approaching, packing warm, hearty lunches and snacks into food jars keeps food at the temperature they were prepared. Perfect for afternoon snacks, rice toppings, or even porridge, food jars keep everything warm. Suppose your kiddo likes to bring yogurt or a cold fruit salad to school? Screw-top food jars can keep everything cool too.

The “new normal” has everyone wearing face masks when we leave the house, staying up to date on booster shots, and of course keeping an open line of communication with administration, faculty, and even teachers’ aids in your child’s school. Figuring out what works for each of our children, addressing and assessing their needs, is a constant work in progress.

Knowing when to keep our kids home, and being aware and mindful of exposure and protocols, while doing everything we can to boost their immunity with the right amount of sleep and healthy, nutritious food, will allow us to send them back to school with confidence.

Providing the proper equipment is part and parcel for our jobs as parents. More than providing for their physical needs, it’s also important for us to let our kids know that heading back to school is the best option for everyone. We can reassure our children and remember that they also feel our worry and anxiety, even if we don’t say it. 

Modeling a mindful example of being able to adjust and keep moving forward even in uncertain times shows our children that, together, we can do difficult things. It just may take additional time to get used to. – Rappler.com

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