[AD] Lets Keep Wales Safe/ Cadwch Gmyru yn Ddiogel

I have teamed up with the Welsh Government and their Keep Wales Safe/Diogelu Cymru Campaign. The transmission rate of COVID-19 may be falling, but we mustn’t drop our guard. We still need to follow the coronavirus guidelines laid out by the Welsh Government.

The last 12 months have been the most turbulent, worrying times that most of us have ever experienced in our lifetimes. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased our anxiety levels and has changed our lives to such a degree that it’s hard to imagine how we used to live before.

During the last 12 months we have had to endure lockdowns and restrictions of varying levels continually, but it has been a necessity that we have all had to endure to stop the spread of this dreadful COVID-19 disease.

From the very start of the pandemic, we decided as parents to be honest with our nine year old twin girls that COVID-19 is one of the worst health crisis we’ll face in a generation.

We explained to them that we must follow the guidelines that the Welsh Government have instructed people to follow in order to protect not only ourselves but also our loved ones and the community in general. We have taught them the importance of washing their hands, wearing face masks and of course social distancing. It has now become second nature to them and they don’t just think about it they just do it.

The biggest single impact that the pandemic has had on my 9 year old twin girls has been the time they have had off school which has been considerable. The effects on their schoolwork, although not dramatic, has still been affected. It’s very difficult to tell how much their wellbeing and development has been affected but needless to say the lack of school will have had some sort of effect on their lives. They both definitely miss their friends and they also miss the routine that school creates in their lives. We have of course done everything we can to support them throughout the last 12 months.

Schools in Wales have now started to allow some of the younger school years back to school and this is fantastic. It won’t be long before my daughters hopefully return to school too which is great news for the girls.

Once the schools are fully open to all pupils it will be very important that parents and pupils follow the Welsh Government coronavirus guidelines as society opens up a bit more.

There could be a potential change in the way parents behave, because the schools are open and the Welsh Government would like to make sure that parents understand the guidelines in a clear way and know what is allowed and what is not allowed.

Headteachers and staff have been working very hard to make sure all schools are a very safe environment for our children. I have experienced this firsthand with the school that my twin girls attend. It is brilliantly organised from the moment before you even reach the school gates with teachers organising orderly, socially distanced queuing right up to the point where you hand over your children for the day. This is all done in a completely one way system.

With our children now returning to school we as parents need to be vigilant to control the spread of coronavirus.

We must not send our children to school if they are unwell and we are not sure if it’s coronavirus.

We must continue to work from home if it is possible.

When you take your children to school, always keep your distance from other parents and don’t stop and have a chat outside the school gates. This wouldn’t be possible at the girls schools because teachers are outside making sure people move along quickly from the area.

My twin girls have definitely missed having friends around for play dates but this is simply not acceptable. You should not be inviting other children or parents around to your home. This includes outdoors, even if they are in the same school bubble.

You should never share a lift to school or any other activities with any other families, unless you have no other choice.

The schools have been closed for such long periods over the last 12 months, but if we as parents behave in a responsible way to keep the virus under control we will be able to keep the schools open permanently.

Here are some possible outcomes if children mix outside school even if they are in the same bubble.

• The more contacts children and adults have there is a greater risk of catching coronavirus.

• The more often children and adults meet there is an increased risk of catching coronavirus.

• All schools have bubbles to reduce the number of contacts children and adults have and how often they mix.

• Schools have a very controlled environment that is managed in such a way that reduces risk. This is a practice that we need to apply outside of school as so often it’s not the case.

• We all want to keep schools open. I know I do for my twin daughters. This is why we need to continue limiting our contacts. One single play date could easily result in 30 children and all their families having to self isolate for 10 days.

The people of Wales have had to give up so much especially with this latest lockdown. The hard work and sacrifices we have made have at times have been truly difficult as they have affected our wellbeing and in many cases our mental health.

As a family there have definitely been days when lockdown has been very difficult to deal with and our moods have definitely been affected.

The sacrifices we have made have all been worthwhile as we push down the transmission of COVID-19. There is no doubt that a combination of the vaccine and lockdown are reducing hospitalisation, transmission and most importantly the deaths that COVID-19 has caused. This will all lead to schools re-opening to all pupils. However, in order to keep them them open we as parents need to continue following all of the Welsh Government’s guidance. Let’s all do our bit and Keep Wales Safe/Diogelu Cymru.

To see all of the Welsh Government’s coronavirus guidelines just visit: gov.Wales/coronavirus

This post is a paid collaboration with the Welsh Government. #KeepWalesSafe