Preparing for school this year goes far beyond stocking up on folders and pencils.

What You Need To Know

“I always get emotional talking about it but I only know school from what I experienced, and it was wonderful. And it didn’t include masks and it didn’t include fear and it didn’t include the anxiety that is going on with everyone right now,” said Danielle Nielsen, who is the mother of two elementary aged daughters.

It instead includes how and where and who will teach your child.

For Nielsen, she’s trading her career, at least for a few months, to double as a teacher for her daughters.

“I’m not a teacher. I was not born with the patience of a teacher. I was like, when they’re school aged, they’re going to school,” said Nielsen.

She opted for her daughters to learn through the My PCS option, which will function as a regular school day, but online.

It’s a decision she says didn’t come easily, and that’s something parents all across the state are facing right now.

“Just by definition, wanting to make sure that your kids are safe and that they’re learning as best they can and that they’re staying healthy is a parents biggest priority,” said Dr. Lauren Gardner, a psychologist with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Gardner says mental health, in this scenario, is just as important as physical health, and there are ways you can make your decision as stress-free as possible for both you and your child.

“Building a routine and structure within your day will be really important, so that they feel like they have that consistency and they know what to expect. I think also for parents, if you planning to send your child to school but you anticipate that the start date might change or that we might move to all online learning, having a plan in place for how you’ll manage that will help manage that anxiety for adults as well,” said Dr, Gardner.

For Nielsen, they’re hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

“We’re willing to do whatever we need to do to enjoy it and excel and make any decisions regarding school in the future. Just roll with the punches,” said Nielsen.