How to Get Ready For School During COVID-19

The new school year has arrived and, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues, many children across America are returning to the classroom -- And discussions around school safety measures abound.

“Schools provide more than just academics to children and adolescents,” a statement on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Healthy Children reiterates. “In addition to reading, writing, and math, children learn social and emotional skills, get exercise and access to mental health support and other things that cannot be provided with online learning.”

The Spread of COVID-19 Within Schools

School is where many children get healthy meals, access the internet, and receive other essential services, the AAP added.

The science on whether schools are a major vector for the coronavirus continues to evolve: Mass closures early in the pandemic prevented larger-scale analysis of them as a source of transmission.

According to an April study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kids under 18 made up less than 2% of reported cases of COVID-19, despite accounting for more than 22% of the American population.

But a July study in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics found that children under 5 years had much higher levels of viral genetic material in their upper respiratory area than older children and adults.

"Young children can potentially be important drivers of SARS-CoV-2 spread in the general population,” lead author Dr. Taylor Heald-Sargent said. "We need to take that into account in efforts to reduce transmission as we continue to learn more about this virus."

Across the U.S., school districts are adopting a patchwork of strategies to combat COVID-19. Many continue to offer remote learning as an option. Some are adopting hybrid plans with students continuing distance learning for part of the week, combined with in-person sessions on other days.

Should they be returning to school, your child will be entering a very different environment than the one they left in the spring. They may encounter:

• Assigned seats on the bus.
• Staggered start and end times.
• Teachers moving between classrooms, rather than students.
• Students eating lunch at their desks, or in small groups outside.
• Hallways and stairways made one-way to avoid crowding.

Talk to your kids about the changes they’re facing. Acknowledge their concerns and answer their questions as best you can.

Pay Attention To Your Local School Official Announcements

It’s also important to learn what your specific district is doing to prevent transmission of the coronavirus: In a JAMA op-ed, Kenne Dibner of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine wrote that schools need to ensure frequent cleaning, adequate ventilation, and air filtration, facilities for regular handwashing, and space for physical distancing.

But those are just recommendations. How it’s playing out in the real world is a mixed bag.

At Growing God’s Kingdom daycare center in West Fork, Arkansas, parents and kids have their temperature taken at drop-off. Families are no longer allowed in the building and children’s hands and shoe soles are sanitized before they enter.

But in Cherokee County, Georgia, where students are not required to wear facial coverings, photos on social media showed hallways jammed with maskless students not observing social distancing.

Even within individual states, the protocols vary greatly: In Florida, Miami-Dade County schools require masks, but Hillsborough County schools do not, as The Washington Post has reported.

The Importance of Face Protection for Kids

So, it’s incumbent upon parents to educate their children about wearing face protection consistently and correctly.

The AAP recommends facial masks for all high school and middle-school students, and for preschool and elementary-school students if they can keep from touching their face.

According to the AAP, the right fit is essential. Adult face coverings are usually 6” x12” — too large for a snug fit on a child. Even a kid-sized covering can be loose on smaller children.

A mask should securely cover the mouth and nose and tuck comfortably behind the ears. (Masks with adjustable loops are the best option.) Letting your child choose their mask can help make the experience feel less awkward and result in them wearing it more.

If your child is participating in school sports, they should wear a mask on the sidelines and while going to and from the playing field. And fabric masks should be washed and dried after every use.

Face shields are another option, especially for toddlers who may fuss with a cloth mask. Shields are also popular because they prevent face-touching, allow for more expressive communication, and don’t fog up eyeglasses.

It’s important that face shields are sized to provide complete coverage, from the forehead to a couple of inches below the chin. They should be cleaned after each use with disinfecting fluid that can kill the virus without clouding up the shield - gentle glass cleaner is a good option.

While there is debate about the relative effectiveness of cloth coverings, and masks vs shields in various settings, just keep in mind that the most effective option is the one your child is most likely to use. So, let’s help them cover up as comfortably as possible to stay safe.

Be Kind to Yourself

If the Covid-19 crisis has delivered one thing consistently, it’s uncertainty. The task, as parents, to manage difficult decisions for both for ourselves and our children in the context of an ever-evolving global pandemic can understandably feel overwhelming, so make sure to be kind to yourself as you navigate these unprecedented times.

As we await further plans from the local governments and school boards, keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for any family, and no plan that will be without challenges. Allow yourself to take it one step at a time and give yourself credit for doing your best.