Tropicana Nov-Dec 2020 #133 The Festive Issue

ADVERTORIAL
Stay Safe
IN SCHOOL THIS YEAR
It’s time to send your child to school, but you’re
worried about how they will fare in these trying
times of the coronavirus. At Kindyland, we want
to give you a head start, by following these
simple tips.
Kindyland offers
programmes for
children aged 3-6
and has been raising
all-rounded children
for over a decade. Its
mission is to prepare students for the next
step of their education while instilling good
values and shaping well-mannered children.
The trilingual center emphasizes Malaysia’s
3 core languages and encourages children
to explore and learn, to connect what
they have experienced in class to the world
around them. Learning is naturally fun, and
students develop physically, emotionally and
cognitively in a caring environment while
learning to interact well socially with their
peers.
School next year, however, may be a
little different. Parents are sure to be a little
apprehensive especially since we’ve just
been through a pandemic. Dealing with the
coronavirus has been challenging for grown
ups, so consider how strange and scary it must
be for little children, to go out into the real
world, especially with social distancing, mask
wearing, and frequent sanitising in place.
Even during ordinary times, many
children suffer from anxiety in the form of
tears and tummy aches when they have to go
to school. So, what can parents do to reassure
children when it’s time to leave the confines
of their homes and go to school?
Here are some tips that may come in
handy, so you can reassure your child, and
have some peace of mind yourself.
Prepare ahead: Start preparing your
children for preschool and school and what to
expect. Go through what a normal day will be
like. In addition, teach them how to stay safe
and how to wash their hands for 20 seconds.
Remind them not to share their food, toys or
utensils, and to refrain from hugging each
other. Little children will want to play together
and that’s okay as long as they know the basics
of hygiene and to keep a safe distance.
Create a routine: Make sure your
children are going to bed early enough and
have a morning routine. When a child has
a predictable daily routine, it reminds them
that they are in a secure, loving environment
and reduces their stress. Start the day right by
making sure your child eats a healthy breakfast
on a daily basis.
Immunity boost: To boost children’s
immunity, they should be getting a good
night’s sleep as well as a balanced diet. Do
ensure they have taken all their vaccinations
to keep them protected.
Communicate often. Try talking to your
child everyday and be honest and open. Your
child may have questions about school, and
the virus. Even if you haven’t discussed the
pandemic with them, try and explain it to them
so they have a basic understanding and are not
fearful. Developing a habit of communicating
Second
20Rule
You can create a ‘game’
out of it - try putting flour
on your child’s hands and
show them how it settles
into the cracks and creases
of our hands; then explain
that this is what germs do,
also, and why it is important
to scrub carefully for 20
seconds when washing
hands, to get rid of all the
flour. Try singing the happy
birthday song twice (which
approximately equates to
20 seconds).
daily is a good rule - try kicking things off with
something like “I can’t wait to hear about your
day.” This lets your kids know that you care
about them and look forward to seeing them
again at the end of the day.
Set a good example. Model good habits
for your children, including good hand
hygiene, covering coughs and sneezes, staying
home if you don’t feel well and wearing
face masks in public. As long as your child
is out of the house, and in areas where there
is a crowd, or there is confined space, he
should be wearing a mask to reduce the risk
of transmission.
School doesn’t have to be a dreaded
experience. You can create a happy
atmosphere if you just take time to prepare
and communicate with your children.
TM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
50