How to Decide How to Send Your Child Back to School

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down many schools before the year was over. Now, as school administrators are deciding how to reopen schools for the fall semester, it can be tough to decide whether you should send your child back to a classic school setting or keep them home and educate them via online school or a homeschool curriculum. By taking into account a few safety factors and precautions, you can decide the best way for your child to continue their education with their health in mind.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Considering Your Specific Circumstances

1
Think about keeping your child home if they have underlying health issues. Although elderly people are generally more at risk for COVID-19, children who have or have had cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, COPD, a weakened immune system, or a heart condition are also more at risk. If your child has any of these conditions, consider keeping them at home so they can effectively social distance from others.^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
- Since COVID-19 is a new virus, there may be more medical conditions that put people at risk than the ones listed here.
- If you aren’t sure if your child is at risk for COVID-19, talk to their doctor about their medical history.
2
Remember that children are less likely to contract COVID-19 than adults. Children are also less likely to have serious complications if they do get COVID-19. However, since this virus is so new, the science is limited, so this may not always be the case.^{[2]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
- You can stay up to date on the latest information about COVID-19 by visiting https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
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3
Consider keeping your child home if they often see high-risk people. The COVID-19 virus spreads in the droplets that you release when you talk, sneeze, or cough. Although children are less likely to contract COVID-19, they can still pass it along to other people they come into contact with. If you and your child often spend time with older relatives or immunocompromised people, consider keeping your child out of a classic school setting.^{[3]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
- Think about grandparents, neighbors, friends, and relatives that you and your child see often.
4
Talk to your child about how well they could focus at home. For young children, it may be tough to ignore distractions at home, like TV, video games, and toys. Sit down with your child and try to get a read on how well you think they could do online learning or homeschooling, or whether you think they might get a better education at school.^{[4]XResearch source}
- You know your child the best, so ultimately, you can decide what is the right decision for them.
- Keep in mind that stress can make it harder for kids to focus on schoolwork.^{[5]XExpert SourceJai Flicker
  Academic TutorExpert Interview. 30 June 2020.}
5
Ask your child what they would like to do. If your child is old enough to understand COVID-19 and what going back to school during a pandemic means, sit down and talk with them about what they want. For some children, going back to school might be worth it for the social and educational aspect. For others, the anxiety surrounding getting sick or spreading COVID-19 might leave them feeling afraid and anxious.^{[6]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
- If your child is young, they may not understand what’s going on. Try to explain it to them in simple terms without making them feel anxious or afraid.
- You don’t have to go along with what your child wants to do if you feel unsafe doing so, but it’s always nice to take their opinion into account.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Going to a Classic School Setting

1
Ask the school administrators what safety precautions they are taking. If you have not heard from your child’s school about what new procedures they’ll have in place, reach out to the principal or a school administrator. If there is still time before the school year, they may still be figuring out how to implement some of these changes. Good questions to ask include:^{[7]XResearch source}
- What precautions are you taking to ensure the safety of the students?
- What will you do if one of the students contracts COVID-19?
- How will you be enforcing the safety procedures during the school year?
- Will there be increased mental health facilities for students?
2
Send your child to school for the most social benefit. The educational aspect of school is very important, but so is the social aspect. If you’re worried that your child may not develop socially if you keep them home, you may decide to send them to a classic school setting.^{[8]XTrustworthy SourceHealthyChildren.orgHealth information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.Go to source}
- Many schools will be requiring students to distance themselves at least 3 feet (0.91 m) from other students. While this can be tough, they will still have more in-person interaction than if they were doing school online.
3
Think about sending your child to school if you work full-time. One of the benefits of a classic school setting is that it occupies your child for the entire day while you are at work. If there won’t be anyone home to watch your child throughout the day, it may be safest to send them off to school where they can get an education and be looked after while you’re not home.^{[9]XResearch source}
- You may be able to talk to your boss or manager about changing your hours due to the global pandemic.
4
Decide if your child can follow safety precautions. Many schools will be requiring social distancing, cloth face masks, and increased hand washing. Think about how well your child will be able to follow the new precautions, and whether they’ll have a better time at home or at school following the new rules.^{[10]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
- Many schools may also be staggering start times, staggering lunch and recess, and getting rid of passing time.
- Young children may not be able to follow all the safety precautions put into place by their school.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Educating Your Child at Home

1
Inquire about a hybrid model of online learning. Some schools may be offering a program where some classes are taught in-person and others are taught online. If your school offers that, talk to the teachers and administrators about what that would look like for your child and how often they’d be in a classic school setting vs. at home.^{[11]XResearch source}
- If your child is younger, they may have a hard time adjusting to the dual schedule.
2
Ask the school administrators if they offer online learning. Some teachers and administrators have been creating online coursework to send to students who aren’t comfortable coming to an in-person class. If you’d like to keep your child home, reach out to their teachers and ask about an online course, or follow up with the school administrators on getting your child the educational materials that they need.^{[12]XTrustworthy SourceHealthyChildren.orgHealth information from the American Academy of Pediatrics.Go to source}
- The school may have some experience with this after dealing with the early school closures of last year.
3
Comply with your state’s homeschooling laws to do homeschooling. If you decide to homeschool your child, you must go through your state to sign your child up for a program and receive a curriculum. Throughout the year, your child may need to take standardized tests to make sure they are on track for their grade and age-range. Depending on your state, the sign-up process can take a while, so be sure to get started right away.^{[13]XResearch source}
- To look up the homeschooling requirements in your area, visit https://hslda.org/legal.
4
Talk to other parents about homeschooling groups. Many parents have to go back to work soon, are already back at work, or haven’t stopped working at all, so they can’t stay home and teach their kids. If there are any parents in your child’s school who aren’t working and are willing to homeschool multiple children, talk to them about putting together a homeschool group with 3 to 4 kids.^{[14]XResearch source}
- Or, if you are able to stay home from work, talk about homeschooling multiple children on a rotating schedule with a few other parents.
- While this won’t completely keep your child away from other children, it can lower their exposure to others drastically while still allowing them to interact with their peers.
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Expert Q&A

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Question
How can I keep my child from being distracted at home?
Jai Flicker
Academic Tutor
Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.
Jai Flicker
Academic Tutor
Expert Answer
If the distractions are external, there are things you can do to handle them, like putting a phone on silent or asking family members to find something quiet to do during learning time. If your child is having trouble staying focused, it could be stress. Try to help them learn to set their worries aside and come back to them later. If their stress is very high, they may need to take a break from schoolwork until they can tame those worries, then come back to the task.
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Tips

No matter what type of learning you choose for your child, remember to be patient with them as they navigate these stressful changes. Instead of pressuring them for perfect performance, be connected and supportive.^{[15]XExpert SourceJai Flicker
Academic TutorExpert Interview. 30 June 2020.}
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If you choose distance learning, hybrid learning, or homeschooling, it may help your child adjust if they can help you create their schedule. For instance, some kids really love getting up early, so they tend to do better getting an early start. Other kids prefer to sleep in, so they might do best with a later start.^{[16]XExpert SourceJai Flicker
Academic TutorExpert Interview. 30 June 2020.}
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The COVID-19 virus is new, and the information is constantly changing. To stay up to date on all information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.
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Warnings

Although children are less likely to contract the COVID-19 virus, they are not immune to it.^{[17]XTrustworthy SourceCenters for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human ServicesGo to source}
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