Worried About Covid-19? How To Prepare Your Child For Daycare
Now that summer is coming to an end and kids are going back to school, it's time to prepare for daycare. If you're like most parents, you thought the Covid-19 protocols would be over by now. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Covid-19 is still a serious threat, which means you need to take extra precautions with your daycare plans. Here are four steps you can take to prepare your child for daycare during Covid-19.
Schedule a Virtual Daycare Tour
If your child hasn't attended daycare yet, you might be worried about how they'll react. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, most daycare facilities allowed personal tours. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case. However, that doesn't mean you can't have a tour. It just means that you need to schedule a virtual tour of the daycare facility. One benefit of the virtual tour is that it gives your child a chance to see what they'll encounter when they arrive at the daycare facility. It also gives you the opportunity to see where your child will be spending their days.
Start Temperature Checks
If your child will be attending daycare this year, you can expect them to have daily temperature checks, especially when they arrive each day. If your child isn't familiar with thermometers, it's a good idea to start practicing early. Most daycare centers are using either ear thermometers or infrared thermometers. Find out what type of thermometer your child's daycare provider uses so that you can start practicing. That way, your child will be prepared for their first day.
Reduce Mask Anxiety
If your child is over two years of age, they may be required to wear masks while in daycare. If that's the case, it's a good idea to prepare them for their masks, especially if they haven't been wearing them already. If your child is younger than two years of age, they won't be required to wear masks. However, the daycare staff may be wearing masks. To avoid mask anxiety, start wearing masks around your child for a short time each day. Exposure to masks will help to alleviate mask anxiety for your child.
Create a Safety Kit
Finally, if your child is heading off to daycare, now's the time to create a safety kit for them. This safety kit will ensure that your child has everything they need to stay healthy and safe while with their daycare provider. Their safety kit should include antibacterial hand wipes and a personal thermometer. If your child is over the age of two, their safety kit should also include several clean face masks. That way, their face masks can be changed out when they get dirty or wet.
Reach out to the daycare facility for more information.