DC rules for daycare openings

[Anonymous]

Just the idea of masks for daycare age kids is ridiculous. If it’s not safe without masks, then they shouldn’t open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just the idea of masks for daycare age kids is ridiculous. If it’s not safe without masks, then they shouldn’t open.

I agree. I think jr K could manage, but younger kids are just not going to be safe in groups anytime soon.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. My teething child *always* has a fever (usually like 1 week a month). I think this makes sense for kids over 2, but for infants, it’s a challenge to pass these guidelines

[Anonymous]

Parents already have a hard time keeping a hat on their child! Who thought masks was a good idea?

They would need at least six of them each. One until snacktime, one for the morning hours, one after lunch, one after naptime and one after PM snacktime plus a backup I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/COVID-19%20-%20Child%20Care%20Health%20Guidance.pdf

My daycare has said that when they open, possibly June 1, kids over two will be required to wear masks, temps will be checked every morning and parents/caregivers must drop off outside and a staff member will wake them in.

I realize these are things to keep everyone safe but it’s really making me consider a nanny or nanny share even though my kids miss their friends so much.

How is everyone else feeling?

How are they planning to get the kids to wear the masks? My soon to be 2 year old yanks and tosses the mask off in like 5 seconds!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. My teething child *always* has a fever (usually like 1 week a month). I think this makes sense for kids over 2, but for infants, it’s a challenge to pass these guidelines

A child with a fever for any reason will always be sent home from daycare. That isn’t new. The larger issue is going to be when people assume that their kid is 99.5 because they are teething or just have an ear infection or whatever and give them tylenol and send them anyway and they actually end up infecting the entire center and potentially killing someone.

[Anonymous]

I can’t wait for daycare to open! I have a 7 month old and my daycare is using the same protocol (maybe it’s the same daycare the OP uses) but they’re also implementing reduced hours to start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if a kid has a fever of 100.4 or higher they need to be home for at least 7 days? Is that right?

It also says children can be excluded for any “visible sign of illness,” so that could include cough, runny nose, etc.
So that pretty much excludes all preschoolers every day. When are their noses not running?

I’m a center director and honestly this is what worries me too. Our kids will never be allowed to stay!

[Anonymous]

Early childhood teacher here and masks on little kids is insane. They’ll touch their face MORE than the otherwise would. And tney are learning language and need to see our faces. We couldn’t possibly understand them if they were wearing masks either. I don’t know what that all means but trust me - there’s no social distancing in early childhood centers. Anyone who says so is kidding themselves. So should we not open? I don’t know. I really don’t.

[Anonymous]

It says that mask a recommended, not required. Children DO NOT have to wear mask although it is encouraged. They will not be denied because they don’t have a mask. Also, the visible illness talks about flushed cheeks, rapid breathing and extreme fussiness not a simple runny nose. Learn to read!

[Anonymous]

Clarification from OSSE on Monday's weekly OSSE webinar:

yes, masks will be encouraged for adults and children over 2 years old IF the child can wear the mast without touching it, removing it, playing with it, etc. So - probably no kids will be in a mask! no masks outside on playground. no masks for any children under 2 years of age, period, they aren't safe at home or school. no masks on anyone during naptime, not safe

yes, temps must be taken by parents or staff at arrival/right before arrival. Anything over 100.4 means child/teacher will be excluded for 72 hours from time temperature goes down. (vs the 24 hours that we all practice now) AND if a child/teacher looks sick or has a cough, also excluded. THIS IS MUCH STRICTER THAN RIGHT NOW but it's because a cough could be Covid, of course it could be a regular old cold, but how would we know?

classrooms will be limited to 10 people: 2 teachers, 8 children - in all rooms, from infants through prek.

shouldn't combine classrooms (like in early AM or late PM) so that kids aren't intermingling together. Also, no combining on playground.

no field trips (this goes without saying) but also - no visitors (no music teachers, yoga, no specials things like puppet shows) all to decrease # of people in environment

also, disinfecting everything that is touched multiple times a day (lightswitches, door handles, etc)

cots 6 ft apart rather than the standard 2 ft apart.

and other stuff

Here's the thing: only being able to have 8 children in each room will be a huge issue because that's not enough income to pay for the teachers. If we could afford to have only 8 4 yr olds in a room, we would do that every day! So unless/until those group sizes go back to normal, it will be VERY HARD for us to open. And which parents do I offer the spaces to when there are 20 children in a room? If I don't offer the space to you, you won't pay, so we'd only get 8 children paying. We can't afford that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. My teething child *always* has a fever (usually like 1 week a month). I think this makes sense for kids over 2, but for infants, it’s a challenge to pass these guidelines

I hear you, but in these times, a fever needs to be assumed as Covid. Flushed cheeks, cough, not looking well - needs to be assumed is Covid.

For babies who have a rough time teething (some babies sail through and you have no idea they are teething!) you might need to consider a nanny, honestly.

[Anonymous]

Homemade masks + little kids = completely useless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clarification from OSSE on Monday's weekly OSSE webinar:

yes, masks will be encouraged for adults and children over 2 years old IF the child can wear the mast without touching it, removing it, playing with it, etc. So - probably no kids will be in a mask! no masks outside on playground. no masks for any children under 2 years of age, period, they aren't safe at home or school. no masks on anyone during naptime, not safe

yes, temps must be taken by parents or staff at arrival/right before arrival. Anything over 100.4 means child/teacher will be excluded for 72 hours from time temperature goes down. (vs the 24 hours that we all practice now) AND if a child/teacher looks sick or has a cough, also excluded. THIS IS MUCH STRICTER THAN RIGHT NOW but it's because a cough could be Covid, of course it could be a regular old cold, but how would we know?

classrooms will be limited to 10 people: 2 teachers, 8 children - in all rooms, from infants through prek.

shouldn't combine classrooms (like in early AM or late PM) so that kids aren't intermingling together. Also, no combining on playground.

no field trips (this goes without saying) but also - no visitors (no music teachers, yoga, no specials things like puppet shows) all to decrease # of people in environment

also, disinfecting everything that is touched multiple times a day (lightswitches, door handles, etc)

cots 6 ft apart rather than the standard 2 ft apart.

and other stuff

Here's the thing: only being able to have 8 children in each room will be a huge issue because that's not enough income to pay for the teachers. If we could afford to have only 8 4 yr olds in a room, we would do that every day! So unless/until those group sizes go back to normal, it will be VERY HARD for us to open. And which parents do I offer the spaces to when there are 20 children in a room? If I don't offer the space to you, you won't pay, so we'd only get 8 children paying. We can't afford that.

Are these recommendations? Or requirements?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clarification from OSSE on Monday's weekly OSSE webinar:

yes, masks will be encouraged for adults and children over 2 years old IF the child can wear the mast without touching it, removing it, playing with it, etc. So - probably no kids will be in a mask! no masks outside on playground. no masks for any children under 2 years of age, period, they aren't safe at home or school. no masks on anyone during naptime, not safe

yes, temps must be taken by parents or staff at arrival/right before arrival. Anything over 100.4 means child/teacher will be excluded for 72 hours from time temperature goes down. (vs the 24 hours that we all practice now) AND if a child/teacher looks sick or has a cough, also excluded. THIS IS MUCH STRICTER THAN RIGHT NOW but it's because a cough could be Covid, of course it could be a regular old cold, but how would we know?

classrooms will be limited to 10 people: 2 teachers, 8 children - in all rooms, from infants through prek.

shouldn't combine classrooms (like in early AM or late PM) so that kids aren't intermingling together. Also, no combining on playground.

no field trips (this goes without saying) but also - no visitors (no music teachers, yoga, no specials things like puppet shows) all to decrease # of people in environment

also, disinfecting everything that is touched multiple times a day (lightswitches, door handles, etc)

cots 6 ft apart rather than the standard 2 ft apart.

and other stuff

Here's the thing: only being able to have 8 children in each room will be a huge issue because that's not enough income to pay for the teachers. If we could afford to have only 8 4 yr olds in a room, we would do that every day! So unless/until those group sizes go back to normal, it will be VERY HARD for us to open. And which parents do I offer the spaces to when there are 20 children in a room? If I don't offer the space to you, you won't pay, so we'd only get 8 children paying. We can't afford that.

Hmm we may fall into a supply and demand situation, where daycare will have to increase their prices to afford to stay afloat with only 8 kids.