It’s a hot topic across social media, in mom-groups, and in the comments of news articles. Should kids continue distance learning when schools reopen?
The rising number of COVID cases has parents wondering if schools are safe. In countries like Taiwan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia, an early and aggressive COVID-19 response has significantly reduced the number of cases and deaths. The U.S. has struggled to get a handle on the pandemic and as a result families are in limbo, worried about job stability, the economy and the fate of the educational system.
Even as schools are reopening, should kids continue distance learning?
School reopening COVID-19 safety measures. Are they enough?
As some schools move toward a hybrid schedule or prepare for in-person classes, concerns turn toward keeping kids safe as schools reopen. The CDC has provided ongoing COVID-19 guidance and addresses how school administrators should plan, prepare, and respond in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Parents and caregivers of children preparing to return to in-person are reminded to check-in with their child each day. Daily temperature checks are recommended. A back-to-school COVID-19 planning checklist for caretakers of children attending in-person classes was recently released. In it, parents are encouraged to regularly remind kids to practice social distancing. Stressing the importance of wearing cloth face coverings, and washing hands often is also recommended. These checklist guidelines also apply to students returning for the 2020-2021 school year in a hybrid capacity.
The decision to continue distance learning or head back to in-person classes is a very personal one. The reasons and decisions vary from family to family and often in many cases, from child to child within the same family. The CDC’s comprehensive decision-making checklist can assist parents in making these very important decisions.
