The Back to School Checklist: COVID-19 Edition

For most parents around the world, the back to school reality has already hit, and for some, very hard. These are unprecedented times, as the thought of homeschooling, masks, and the never-ending handwashing seem more like a futuristic movie plot than a regular day. But, here we are, resilient and mindful of how we can find new ways to adapt and evolve with our new normal. At least, this is the goal. So, how do we approach and survive a new school year during a global pandemic? Let us introduce a new kind of back to school checklist.

Your Back to School Survival Guide (Hold the Pencils)

Kick your positive thinking into high gear

There’s nothing more challenging than a change in our routine, especially when it’s involuntary. Think of a time when you were faced with something you deemed insurmountable. How did it feel to face it? And, more importantly, how did it feel when you accomplished the task at hand? Just as we need to make the effort to get through the task, we also have to remind ourselves that no matter the outcome, we survived it. So often, we can’t change our reality, but we can decide how we choose to face it. This is a learned skill.

Teach this skill to your children. Maintain an open dialogue with them and remind them that being frustrated is a part of life, as long as we all pick ourselves back up and try again tomorrow.

Label, label, label

Once upon a time, putting your child’s name on every marker, eraser, and ruler ensured that you didn’t have to go out mid-year to restock everything they’ve misplaced along the way. Today, COVID-19 has made this task even more vital. Why not make a night of it? With a little help from the family, make it a point to get some form of identification on everything from shoes to lunchboxes to pencil crayons, and more. Get creative if necessary!

Keep the traditions going

We all have our little back to school traditions. Whether it’s a special lunch on a certain day of the week, a little treat for getting a good grade, or a family portrait to mark the beginning of a new school year—this year should be no different. Let’s keep these moments alive, as they may be the only things recognizable from school years past.

Rinse, reboot, and repeat

At the end of a school day, it’s essential to disinfect as much as you can. Try and clean those devices, bus passes, and anything else that your child would use during the day—beyond their regular supplies. While uniforms are the reality for many, try a rotating schedule and wash what you can throughout the week. A quick rinse and trip to the dryer can be very helpful.

I always find it useful to stop and think about how we are not alone in this. For the first time in our lives, and our parents’ lives, we are all facing the same reality. Whether it is a ‘back to school’ checklist or a ‘get through the day’ checklist, we’re all working towards the same goal. And, never forget to check on yourself. Feeling whole will give you the capacity to give more than you ever imagined.

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