Helping Your Kids Understand Social Distancing
ADvTECH Group • June 5, 2020
Teaching Your Children About Social Distancing At School
By now your children are probably well versed on the importance of social distancing. Younger children and toddlers are likely to understand the gist of things while older children and teens will have a complete understanding of the global situation.
As we move through to Level 3 lockdown and begin to see a return to school, it’s important to help your kids fully understand the importance of keeping social distancing protocols in place.
Social distancing in school
It’s a difficult time for all families to navigate. The health and safety of our loved ones is a top priority and the country has been dedicated to strict social distancing for over 2 months.
For children finally returning to school, it might be easy to forget the severity of the situation. We understand that children will be excited to “get back to normal”. While we want to encourage this returning sense of community in the educational space, it’s vital that all learners and teachers maintain proper hygiene and social distancing habits.
Here are some ways in which you can help prepare your child for social distancing in school and how to help keep everyone healthy and safe:
1. Help them understand the situation
Depending on how much detail you’ve shared with your children, it’s important to drive home the severity of the situation and explain why social distancing is necessary. There’s no need to fear monger, but rather try to express the need to keep everyone safe and healthy. Explain to them that they need to keep a safe distance from friends, avoid sharing foods or juice bottles and not to hug one another. Remind them that the sooner everyone is able to comply with these habits, the sooner we can combat the spread of the virus.
2. Keep up social distancing rules outside of school
Avoid playdates or socialising until the correct lockdown level laws allow it. This will ensure your child is not at risk of picking up or spreading the illness outside of the school bubble.
3. Don’t forget masks and hand sanitiser
Hygiene habits such as hand washing, hand sanitiser and face masks will also help keep the spread of the virus at bay. It’s important for parents to observe these habits too, keeping the extended Trinityhouse community out of risk. There are plenty of hand washing tutorials on YouTube should your child need to brush up on proper handwashing techniques for optimal safety.
Checklist:
At the start of the school day, perhaps run through this checklist of reminders with your child. It might seem redundant but keeping this top of mind will help children to keep up social distancing and hygiene habits:
● Wash hands for at least 20 seconds, always with soap.
● Don’t touch your face.
● Use hand sanitiser when necessary.
● Avoid sharing juice bottles, straws or eating utensils.
● If you need to sneeze or cough, use the crook of your elbow.
● If a fellow learner sneezes or coughs, there is no need to panic. There is also no need to isolate or tease anyone who is unwell. We are all in this together.
● Don’t hug or make contact with friends.
● If you’re feeling unwell, communicate it to your parents or teacher immediately.
● Don’t be afraid to ask for support. This is a scary time, but your teachers and family are here to help you through it.
At Trinityhouse we are taking the utmost care in preparing our schools for a safe return. Our priority is health and safety for all. We are currently establishing optimal health procedures, adapting school policies where necessary and doing what we can to provide extra support to all parents, learners and teachers.
Enquire here
Apply here
Add your custom HTML here
International Chess Day highlights how Trinityhouse and Mzansi Chess Academy are helping students develop the thinking, resilience and leadership skills needed for tomorrow's world.
A new chapter will strengthen Christian values, academic excellence and opportunities for generations of students
Why play remains one of the most powerful tools in shaping confident, capable and compassionate adults
Engineering Speed, Grit and Global Adventure: Meet Trinityhouse Alumnus Matthew Thersby
Winning a match may earn applause in the moment, but the lessons learnt through sport often last a lifetime. Every training session, team talk, victory and defeat presents students with opportunities to develop resilience, discipline, leadership and integrity in ways few other environments can offer. As schools around the world mark World Fair Play Day on 19 May 2026, conversations around sport are shifting beyond trophies and results towards the deeper role athletics play in shaping character and preparing students for life beyond the classroom. Sport places students in environments where responsibility constantly changes. One moment may require leadership and confidence, while another demands humility, support and teamwork. These experiences encourage students to understand that success is rarely achieved alone. According to Trinityhouse Preparatory Centurion Deputy Principal Franco van Dyk, sport provides one of the most practical platforms for character development. “Sport challenges students to lead, support, adapt and persevere in real-time situations. Character is often revealed during moments of pressure, disappointment or uncertainty. Those experiences help shape young people into resilient and responsible individuals,” says van Dyk. Participation in sport also teaches accountability. Students quickly learn that preparation, commitment and consistency influence outcomes. Team environments reinforce the understanding that every individual contribution matters and that collective success depends on shared effort and responsibility. Healthy sporting cultures are equally dependent on respect. Respect towards teammates, opponents, teachers, coaches and the school itself create environments where students feel connected to something greater than themselves. Pride in representing a school badge often strengthens responsibility, discipline and unity. Good sportsmanship becomes especially important during difficult moments. Victory may reveal confidence but defeat often reveals character. Students learn how to recover after setbacks, reflect on performance and continue striving towards improvement despite disappointment. “Fair play is about much more than following rules,” explains van Dyk. “Students learn that integrity matters even when nobody is watching. Ethical behaviour, honesty and respect become habits that influence the way they lead and interact later in life.” Sport also provides valuable opportunities for students to develop emotional maturity. Pressure situations, competition and conflict require young people to manage emotions constructively while learning how to communicate effectively and make decisions under stress. Leadership within sport extends beyond captains and top performers. Students who encourage teammates, demonstrate discipline and show empathy often influence team culture just as powerfully. Younger students naturally observe these behaviours and begin adopting similar values themselves. Humility remains another important lesson developed through sport. Success can easily create complacency, yet grounded individuals continue learning, improving and respecting others regardless of results. Students begin to understand that personal growth matters more than status or recognition. Inclusive sporting environments also play a vital role in student development. Equal opportunities encourage participation, confidence and belonging while strengthening school communities. Students exposed to diverse personalities, strengths and perspectives develop empathy and mutual respect through shared experiences. Schools therefore carry an important responsibility to ensure sport remains grounded in values and fair play rather than purely results-driven competition. Recognition of effort, resilience, teamwork and improvement helps students understand that conduct and character carry greater long-term value than short-term victories. “Sport prepares students for life far beyond school,” adds van Dyk. “Resilience, discipline, teamwork, humility and integrity remain essential qualities in adulthood. Lessons developed on the sports field often become the foundation for future leadership and success.” As conversations around education continue evolving, sport remains one of the most powerful classrooms for teaching students how to lead ethically, support others respectfully and approach life with courage and integrity.
International Families Day reminds us that students thrive when schools and families walk the journey together
Where emotional intelligence, belonging and wellbeing shape confident, high-achieving students
Each year on 14 March, schools across the globe celebrate Pi Day, a playful tribute to the mathematical constant π (3.14). Numbers may seem abstract at first glance, yet behind every formula lies a story of discovery, logic and imagination. Mathematical thinking shapes the way young people analyse the world, solve problems and innovate in fields ranging from medicine to technology. Passion for mathematics rarely appears overnight. Curiosity often provides the starting point. According to Camilla Pretorius, Principal of Trinityhouse Centurion , mathematical confidence develops when students realise that the subject is not about memorising formulas but about exploring patterns and ideas. “Mathematics is fundamentally about curiosity,” Pretorius explains. “Students begin to thrive when they understand that problem-solving is a journey rather than a test of instant ability.” Early childhood plays a critical role in shaping attitudes towards numbers. Young students naturally explore patterns, shapes and quantities through play long before formal lessons begin. Counting steps on a staircase, sorting colourful objects or building towers all introduce foundational mathematical concepts. Teachers who encourage exploration help students associate mathematics with discovery rather than anxiety. Games, puzzles and open-ended questions transform classrooms into spaces where curiosity flourishes. Confidence grows when mistakes become part of learning. “Students sometimes arrive believing they are ‘not maths people’,” Pretorius says. “Changing that mindset requires patience and encouragement. Progress becomes visible once students understand that effort and persistence build mathematical ability.” Academic performance improves when students believe they can succeed. Mathematical confidence determines whether a student will attempt a challenging problem or avoid it entirely. Supportive classroom environments allow students to ask questions, test ideas and learn through trial and error. Teachers play a central role in shaping that environment. Encouraging discussion, celebrating creative thinking and analysing mistakes openly helps students develop resilience.
