It’s safe to say COVID-19 has thrown the whole world a bit of a curveball when it comes to reevaluating how we live our lives and individual freedoms we have taken for granted. Living through a global pandemic hasn’t been easy for most of us, but one area that seems to be hit the hardest is education.

But after the disruption of the last three months worth of learning it is ok to feel disappointed that your child hasn’t had the experience others have had, even if they don’t seem too bothered themselves. Especially those with major exams they have been working towards.

For those students looking to continue to further education once they finish year 12 this summer, making sure you are confident they can keep safe and still learn either on campus or via home learning needs to be top of your list. So how can you, as a parent, help your child prepare for learning in a post lockdown environment?

Accommodation.

We’ve all seen the images of parents flooding into halls of residence to help their children settle in and make sure they have everything they need to start off living on their own. But you can start with the basics now. Looking for somewhere for your child to live that reduces the risk of catching the virus is an excellent base for preparing them for their first experience of living on their own without parents to help them out.

For new students, halls of residence are often a go-to, but this doesn’t mean you can’t look elsewhere. There is a wide selection of student accommodation in Liverpool or around the rest of the country close to universities that are within an easy commute to the campus. This can give you peace of mind that our child has their own space to go back to each day or even a quiet area to learn from should part or all of the course require home learning as opposed to face to face classes.

Chores

Chores are most definitely a stalwart between most parents and children. Helping out around the house and keeping their rooms clean. Help your child prepare for university by making sure they can not only tidy up after themselves but make sure their living environment is clean too.

Show them your tips for easy cleaning hacks if you have any and what products to use for different tasks around the home. The cleaner they can keep their living space, the less chance of them becoming ill through poor hygiene standards. This also reduces the likelihood that you will have to clean up after them when you visit!

Focus on the parts of their accommodation they touch the most – cupboards, doors, fridges, countertops, door handles, etc. and where they prepare food too. If they have a washing machine, show them how to use it properly to avoid any flooding, detergent overspill, or laundry bags coming home during visits!

Don’t forget the bathroom too. If anything, having them practice before they leave home will give you a bit of break!

Food Hygiene and Nutrition.

We all know students have a reputation for living off noodles and beans on toast. But that doesn’t mean you can’t expand on their repertoire before the need to focus on making their meals alone. All they need is one or two meals they can prepare well to start them off. Make sure theyy know how to store different foods to make sure they don’t inadvertently give themselves or others food poisoning.

If your child can prepare even basic, healthy nutritious meals, then you can at least be sure they know how to eat well even if they don’t choose to eat well.

Personal Hygiene.

You would think this isn’t something you would need to worry about at their age but stressing the importance of good personal hygiene at all times can never be a bad thing.

Drill home the importance of handwashing regularly and using appropriate measures such as gloves, face masks, and hand gel when needed. It can help you to feel confident they know how to protect themselves from contracting any illness not just COVID-19 at times.

How about packing them a hygiene hamper to take with them? Include home cleaning essentials such as anti bacterial products to clean the house – Dettol is always an excellent go-to for home and personal hygiene. Include hand wipes and sanitiser products, disposable gloves, and face masks if reusable ones aren’t available. While they may think you are over the top and dramatic, it shows you care, and chances are when you next see them again, they will have used most, if not all of the products too.

What other ways do you think you could help your child prepare for university in the post-lockdown UK?