If I Knew Then What I Know Now…

If I Knew Then What I Know Now…

For those of us who are gently stepping back in and dipping our toes into the latest version of craziness, I asked the wise folks among us who have already started down this journey to share their experience.

 So, in no apparent order, this is what I learned.

 What do we need to know?

• Don't do it alone: involve your leadership, staff, families, and colleagues in the process
• Partner with your staff, and be willing to practice, adjust, repeat! 
• Support your staff
• There’s a tremendous amount of “gray space.”
• Be impeccable with your words and communicate.
• Use your licensor and public health rep as great resources
• Children and families need us and we need them
• "I don't know" is ok
• Create a reopening video to demonstrate new procedures
• Put your safety plan on the website
• Create and post firm illness and travel policies
• Communicate honestly with your parents about how much work and thought is involved in this process.

What worked? 

• Small groups, keeping siblings together
• Touchless sign-in and out app
• Outdoor sinks
• Shorten school hours, at least temporarily
• Being outside
• Large laundry baskets to collect toys for sanitizing
• Minimize the number of toys, both inside and outside
• Let them play!
• Creative use of outdoor space

What didn’t work?

• Masks on a two-year-old
• Having the parent assist the child instead of a teacher during arrivals and departures

• Finding additional teachers and/or subs
• Finding funds for fencing and supplies

Dale Sides Cooperman, M.A., Ed. Spec
Director of Early Childhood Education
Congregation Albert Early Childhood Center
Albuquerque, NM

August 2020