“The first thing teachers should do is communicate this fact, both to parents and classmates, without mentioning names, so as not to stigmatize. Communicating to parents will allow them to be aware of the symptoms that their children could eventually present and take action. Similarly, parents must report to the school if any of their children has been infected,” says Dr. Carmen Bravo de Rueda, a prominent psychologist at our clinic.

How to prevent the child from feeling bad, if he has infected his classmates?

Talk to the minor, making him see that he is not to blame, since it is not something that has been done on purpose and that, in addition, most people do not realize that they are sick until they feel the symptoms.

How to face the return after quarantine?

The important thing is the way children are told about Covid-19. The explanation given to them must be appropriate to the age of the child to ensure that they understand and comply with the recommendations. They cannot be assured that they will not be quarantined again, since that will depend on everyone taking care of themselves, but it is necessary to avoid showing uneasiness or fear because that is transmitted through gestures, even if they do not involve words.

Recommendations for teachers:

• Teachers must explain to the children that all security measures are being taken to prevent contagion, such as distancing folders, avoiding crowds, implementing various areas for hand washing, adequate ventilation, etc.
• As soon as possible, there should be a Nursing Topic, to which the students can go if they feel any discomfort, that will transmit confidence and security.

Recommendations for parents:

• They must be the first to be calm, knowing that the majority of vaccinated people recover from infection without major complications, except in cases where severe complications may occur due to belonging to a risk group.
• Make sure that the school is complying with biosecurity measures. Similarly, make sure your children abide by the rules so that they are protected.
• Talk to your children, asking them to inform you if a classmate or they themselves have felt any discomfort during the day. If this is the case, take control of the situation and act calmly in the face of the event.

Dr. Carmen Bravo de Rueda
Psychologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma