Parents told to prepare kids for a different back to school

CALGARY (CityNews) – Parents are encouraged to start back to school routines with their kids now. but what exactly does that look like?

Schools are putting the final touches on COVID-19 measures and as the clock winds down to the school year, many are saying it’s now or never.

“Feeling anxious and worried and having that heightened is going to be normal.”

Kelly Schwartz, a psychologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary said much of this is getting kids into the mindset of what the new normal will be.

It’s also important to give each other not just physical space but psychological space.

“Kids are going to mess up, kids are going to forget, kids are going to forget about the masks, the social distancing because when they get back to school this is returning to a site and setting where they are going to apply all these principles and boundaries that is new and fresh.”

A Calgary vice-principal posted a checklist in July to prepare families for heading back to the classroom.

The Facebook post generating over 10,000 shares to date.

One of the items, teaching them about signage and directional arrows.

Like in grocery stores and malls, students will also need to pay attention to designated entrance and exit doors and one-way hallways.

As kids like to touch everything, it’s important to take a proactive approach when it comes to handwashing.

For students that means before leaving home, on arrival at school, whenever you are coming in from recess and generally whenever hands are visibly dirty.

The Calgary Board of Education has their re-entry plan on their website while the Calgary Catholic School District tells CityNews its publishing its school opening handbook on Aug. 14.

For Schwartz, ultimately learning to be flexible is going to be the key to transitioning kids back to school in this new normal and to do so with patience.

“We need to focus on making sure we are aware but we also need to be kind to each other as kids learn to deal with these changes and these recommendations.”