School’s back! Here’s How to Prepare Your Preschooler as the World Goes Offline
“No more pencils, no more books,
No more teachers, dirty looks.
Out for summer, out ’til fall,
We might not come back at all. School’s out!”
With the start of the pandemic, these lines by Alice Cooper felt true to a great extent. This song was written to be sung on the last day of school. But to everyone’s disappointment it turned out to be true for a much much longer time for kids who were about to start their journey; the preschoolers!
Schools, day care centres, public spaces, businesses, everything was shut. The pandemic affected each one of us equally, leaving us cooped up in our home. Parents of preschoolers had the most daunting of all tasks, to ensure their kids studied while being at home.
But the drop in covid cases in 2022 led to the reopening of schools and the start of preschool admissions as well. So these same parents are now facing the opposite and equally challenging problem of preparing their little ones for extended periods outside their home, and at school. And while this might be tough, but it is extremely important for parents to provide their kids with opportunities for social interaction & physical activities in their formative years.
After approximately 2 years of isolation & schooling from home, let’s get all of you parents ready for an unprecedented school year.
Introduce proper time management
Because of the stay-at-home regimen, studying, sleeping and eating schedules went haywire. When kids were attending classes online, they were not expected to get up early, dress up and leave for school. They were able to eat or play according to their wishes.
But now with the schools opening up, kids need to be more in control of their team. Hence, parents need to encourage consistency & establish a daily wake-up, getting dressed, breakfast, and family time routine for their kids. Moreover, they need to monitor their television & internet timings after & before school.
Educate them about the new normal
Playing with friends, sharing lunches with them, will not be the same even after the reopening of schools. It is very crucial for a healthy preschool or day care experience that he/she understands the new school environment.