Full disclosure, this post isn’t 100% original. I am taking some material from a previous newsletter I sent out back in August about schools reopening. I have been hearing a lot of buzz about schools reopening after spring break, or just families being more comfortable and ready to send their children back to school. There is no right or wrong answer here. You do what works best for your child, their needs, and your family. If you do decide to have your child return to school for in-person learning, however that might look for the district, below are some helpful guidelines to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Talk to your child ahead of time about what changes are being made. Many children have been used to 100% remote learning or a hybrid method of learning for the last year. For many students, this might be the first time they are actually in their classroom or school building! See where their thinking is at and what concerns they may have.
Practice wearing a mask. At this point, many of us are used to wearing masks. However, many of us are not used to wearing masks for multiple hours. Start practicing with your child for longer and longer increments.
Have enough masks. Make sure to have enough masks for the school week. It might also be a good idea to have a few extra in your child’s bag or to keep in their locker in case something happens.
Ask for a virtual tour or photos. For younger kids, seeing plexiglass or a different setup in the classroom might make them uncomfortable and nervous. Ask the teacher or school district if they can do a video walk-through or take pictures about what the classroom (or any other room changes) look like.
Practice social distancing. Younger kids already push boundaries with peers and can hang on to each other. It’s a normal part of growing up. For many young kids, they haven’t had the ability to socialize in a way that teaches boundaries. Practice with them! Pre-pandemic, whenever I would work on boundaries with younger kids I would use a hula hoop to show personal space. Don’t have a hula hoop? Grab some fun duct tape and make a square on the floor to show personal space. When all else fails, have your child stretch their arms out fully at their side to make themself look like a “T”. Their fingertips shouldn’t be touching another person.
Bedtime routine. Please see my previous article about sleep hygiene with the clock changes. The last year has allowed many of us to change up our sleep patterns- for better or worse. Have your child (no matter their age) get back into a routine of going to bed at a decent time and waking up at a decent time. In-person learning doesn’t really allow for rolling out of bed or a walking commute down the hall. Time management is going to play a critical role in getting back to school.
Make it exciting! Pretend it is the start of the school year all over again… well, it is a little bit. Did you skip out on back-to-school shopping in August? If so, do it now! On the flip side, you don’t need to purchase anything. Get creative and decorate a notebook or folder to get the kids ready.
Review appropriate handwashing. This one is big, especially with the younger kids. Have them sing the alphabet song or “Happy Birthday” two times while handwashing. Have hand sanitizer in the backpack and review appropriate times to wash hands and use the hand sanitizer.
Check-in with their doctors and other health care providers. The decision to return back to school is personal to each family. Consult with your child’s pediatrician and other health care providers to review any risks prior to making the decision.
Parents- I did not forget about you. You just had an entire year home with the kids or at least more time than usual with them. This is a transition period for you too. Some of you might be jumping for joy (I am now thinking of that back-to-school commercial where the mother is all excited on the first day of school while the kids frown). Be sure to practice your own self-care and get yourself back into a routine. If your kids can see that you are adjusting well to the change, they are more likely to follow.