Teach and reinforce everyday preventive actions
Hand Wash
Wash your hands with cleanser and water for 20 seconds, and urge your youngster to do likewise. Understand more and watch a video on the best way to wash hands effectively.
In the event that cleanser and water are not accessible, use hand sanitizer that contains at any rate 60% liquor. Show your kid to cover all surfaces of their hands with hand sanitizer and rub their hands together until they feel dry. On the off chance that your kid is under 6 years old, manage them when they use hand sanitizer.
Wear a mask
Ensure everybody in your family wears a mask (if 2 years old or more seasoned) when out in the open and when around individuals who don’t live in your family unit. Guarantee your youngster wears their masks accurately.
A few youngsters may think that its difficult to wear a mask. In the event that your youngster thinks that its difficult, you can think about other options.
Avoid close contact
Make sure your kids and everyone else in your household keep at least 6 feet away from other people who don’t live with them and people who are sick (such as coughing and sneezing).
Cover coughs and sneezes
When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, throw your tissue in closest garbage can, and wash your hands. Encourage your child and all household members to do the same.
Bring your child for their healthcare visits
Routine well-child visits and vaccine visits are essential, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prepare for your child’s healthcare visits
- Call your child’s healthcare provider to ask about any upcoming appointments or to ask when your child’s vaccinations are due.
- Ask your child’s healthcare provider what steps they are taking to separate healthy patients from those who may be sick. Some healthcare providers may choose to delay in-person visits, which will be based on the situation in your community and your child’s individual care plan.
- Notify your child’s healthcare provider before your visit if you or your child have any symptoms of COVID-19.
Bring your child for well-child visits and vaccine visits
Your child’s healthcare provider will check your child’s growth and development at well-child visits. You can also track your child’s developmental milestones with CDC’s free Milestone Tracker app.
Vaccines are an important part of keeping your child healthy by protecting them against vaccine-preventable diseases. There are effective vaccines for illnesses such as measles, flu (influenza), whooping cough (pertussis), and other diseases that can spread from person to person. Although there is not yet a vaccine to help protect against COVID-19, your child should receive all of their recommended vaccines.
Get a flu vaccine by the end of October
A flu vaccine is the single best way to prevent flu.
CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine each year by the end of October (with rare exceptions). You and your child can get a flu vaccine during healthcare visits, or you can find additional locations at vaccinefinder.orgexternal icon.
Getting a flu vaccine can reduce the likelihood of your child getting sick, being hospitalized, or dying from flu. You and your family getting a flu vaccine will also help protect others around you who may be more vulnerable to severe illness from flu, like babies and young children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with certain medical conditions.
It is especially important for this upcoming flu season to help prevent over-burdening the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 and flu are both infectious illnesses that can affect breathing and have similar symptoms, but they are caused by different viruses. Learn more about similarities and differences between flu and COVID-19.
More about flu:
- Know the emergency warning signs of flu and seek medical care immediately if your child has any of these symptoms
- Children & Flu
- Flu Information for Parents
- Frequently Asked Questions on Flu for the 2020-2021 Season
Help your child stay active
Regular physical activity can improve your child’s physical and mental health.
- Ensure your child stays active every day while taking everyday preventive actions. Learn more about how much physical activity your child should get daily.
- Find ways to make physical activity a part of your child’s life.
- Set a positive example by leading an active lifestyle yourself and making physical activity a part of your family’s daily routine.
Help your child stay socially connected
- Reach out to friends and family via phone or video chats.
- Write cards or letters to family members who they may not be able to visit.
- Check to see if your child’s school has tips and guidelines to help support social and emotional needs of your child. Some schools and non-profits, such as the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learningexternal iconand The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligenceexternal icon, have resources for social and emotional learning.
Help your child cope with stress
The COVID-19 pandemic can be stressful for both adults and children. Learn more about signs of stress in children, ways to support your child, and how to take care of your own mental health.
CDC has also developed several tools to help you care for your child’s mental health and well-being. COVID-19 Parental Resource Kit offers tools to help you understand your child’s social, emotional, and mental health challenges according to their age group and promote their well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and preschoolers page provides guidance on how to address common parenting challenges, like tantrums and whining, and information on things you can do to build a positive, healthy relationship with your young children.
Ask about school meal services
Check with your child’s school on plans to continue meal services if school is closed to in-person learning for some or all students. Many schools may continue to provide meals in different ways, such as allowing families to pick up meals at the school or providing grab-and-go meals at other locations.
Consider taking extra precautions
Moreover, to following the recommendations above, consider taking extra care if your child has a disability or a developmental or behavioral disorder.
