If your kid is thriving with DL....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good teachers and involved parents. We make sure ours logs on, participates and does assignments. We check and verify assignments were done. No tutor but one parent he,ps a lot with math. We always supplemented prior.

I think this is kind of a naive response.

For some kids, even if they have good parents (like you!) and good teachers, they're still going to struggle. Have some humility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More sleep for DC. Our public school is also super organized, with a good virtual board that shows what's due every day for the next 2 weeks. All the teachers make summary notes with what they thought in the class that day, so it's easy to review with the child. Every teacher stays online from 2:30 to 3:30 after school for questions, extra help, tutoring etc. My child struggles with organization IRL so he loves this setup. He wants to stay virtual.

What grade is this?

7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it really hard to square this thread with the reported skyrocketing rates of mental illness in children from the medical and healthcare system. To be fair, that started pre-pandemic, but it's markedly worse now.

I think there is a gap between parental self-reporting and reality, although again, that predated the pandemic.

My 7th grader is doing great but he's always been playing sports year around and staying active, which I think it's huge for mental health.

[Anonymous]

Hmmmm. Maybe we should sell all the school buildings, fire 2/3 of the specials teachers (specials could be pre-recorded) and give every resident a tax break? Not entirely kidding. If it’s awesome let’s stop the charade that it will go back to anything like normal. People who want old fashioned school can pay for private using (partially) the rebate. Oh and why do we need principals if there are no buildings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good teachers and involved parents. We make sure ours logs on, participates and does assignments. We check and verify assignments were done. No tutor but one parent he,ps a lot with math. We always supplemented prior.

I think this is kind of a naive response.

For some kids, even if they have good parents (like you!) and good teachers, they're still going to struggle. Have some humility.

The question was about if kids are thriving. It very much helps to have both but you will need to supplement and support, especially for younger kids. Its very hard for kids to navigate it alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmmmm. Maybe we should sell all the school buildings, fire 2/3 of the specials teachers (specials could be pre-recorded) and give every resident a tax break? Not entirely kidding. If it’s awesome let’s stop the charade that it will go back to anything like normal. People who want old fashioned school can pay for private using (partially) the rebate. Oh and why do we need principals if there are no buildings?

Our specials teachers are doing a great job. in our ES, they have child care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I don't trust many parents' assessments of how their children are "thriving" in DL.

Why not? Doe the first time have a front row seat and can see everything they are doing and how they’re reacting to it.

Because I don't think a lot of parents are very good at impartially assessing the academic progress of their kids, and we already know a lot of parents don't assess the emotional and mental health of their children well.

But then they aren’t really doing any worse now than they would be doing in general right?

No, it's very different. In non-DL, there are many more external and more impartial measurements going on, both formal and informal. There is a wider community that provides essentially continuous feedback, and that's largely not happening now. If you talk with teachers honestly (without flaming them or calling them lazy or other stupid insults), they'll often open up about how they don't have a lot of faith in formal assessments going on, and informal non-parental assessment has largely disappeared. The fact is, in DL the wide variety of inputs a thoughtful parent might get about their children is severely diminished.

Have you ever read any homeschool survivor forums? I have, and the "my kid is thriving!" posters sound remarkably like the parents of those kids. The kids themselves, particularly as adults, often have wildly different and typically more accurate assessments of their own educational progress, because they have to live with the results as adults.

I am sure there are some kids who are actually thriving, but I don't trust the assessment of most parents as to that point.

I agree with this. I am suspicious of anyone who says that their kids is "thriving." They might be doing well in school or enjoying aspects of DL like the ability to sleep in, but to me, the word "thrive" involves a comprehensive wellness that DL cannot provided. This is not to say that the need for the relationships, personal connections that come with in person learning require immediate return to school buildings. But part of education is building and even more navigating relationships, and that is missing with DL. I think this layoff will come at great cost, but hopefully we can get kids back to where they need to be.

My oldest child took largely duel enrollment classes, got all As, and learned a great deal about managing him time. However, he lacked in person connection with classmates and even with teachers and therefore, despite his good grades and general good humor, I won't say he is thriving. To the contrary, his development has been hampered by this period where he is completely out of touch with his peers, making it impossible to "thrive."

I honestly think that people who rave about DL are control freaks who want their children to be separated from the world. While my son socializes through video games, I don't consider that the type of socialization that a teenage boy needs to learn how to navigate the world. Life is about being around all types of people, those you like and those you don't. While they might be learning, they might be content or adopting, kids aren't connecting and therefore, are not thriving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I don't trust many parents' assessments of how their children are "thriving" in DL.

Why not? Doe the first time have a front row seat and can see everything they are doing and how they’re reacting to it.

Because I don't think a lot of parents are very good at impartially assessing the academic progress of their kids, and we already know a lot of parents don't assess the emotional and mental health of their children well.

But then they aren’t really doing any worse now than they would be doing in general right?

No, it's very different. In non-DL, there are many more external and more impartial measurements going on, both formal and informal. There is a wider community that provides essentially continuous feedback, and that's largely not happening now. If you talk with teachers honestly (without flaming them or calling them lazy or other stupid insults), they'll often open up about how they don't have a lot of faith in formal assessments going on, and informal non-parental assessment has largely disappeared. The fact is, in DL the wide variety of inputs a thoughtful parent might get about their children is severely diminished.

Have you ever read any homeschool survivor forums? I have, and the "my kid is thriving!" posters sound remarkably like the parents of those kids. The kids themselves, particularly as adults, often have wildly different and typically more accurate assessments of their own educational progress, because they have to live with the results as adults.

I am sure there are some kids who are actually thriving, but I don't trust the assessment of most parents as to that point.

I agree with this. I am suspicious of anyone who says that their kids is "thriving." They might be doing well in school or enjoying aspects of DL like the ability to sleep in, but to me, the word "thrive" involves a comprehensive wellness that DL cannot provided. This is not to say that the need for the relationships, personal connections that come with in person learning require immediate return to school buildings. But part of education is building and even more navigating relationships, and that is missing with DL. I think this layoff will come at great cost, but hopefully we can get kids back to where they need to be.

My oldest child took largely duel enrollment classes, got all As, and learned a great deal about managing him time. However, he lacked in person connection with classmates and even with teachers and therefore, despite his good grades and general good humor, I won't say he is thriving. To the contrary, his development has been hampered by this period where he is completely out of touch with his peers, making it impossible to "thrive."

I honestly think that people who rave about DL are control freaks who want their children to be separated from the world. While my son socializes through video games, I don't consider that the type of socialization that a teenage boy needs to learn how to navigate the world. Life is about being around all types of people, those you like and those you don't. While they might be learning, they might be content or adopting, kids aren't connecting and therefore, are not thriving.

That's why sports are crucial; it's never too early to learn how to work with difficult people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My girls' school is doing an excellent job. My younger daughter freaked out emotionally at the beginning of the pandemic and her teacher came to our house and they sat on the driveway (10 feet apart with masks) and talked, and the teacher read her some books, and did a little homework together, and some magic tricks, told jokes, etc. She has been coming once a week SINCE MARCH.

I think that is keeping my youngest sane and thriving. Oldest is doing great.

That’s absurd to have them come ongoing.

This is absolutely insane. How old is your daughter?

She's in third grade. It's about an hour a week. Their school is REALLY dedicated to the students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I don't trust many parents' assessments of how their children are "thriving" in DL.

Why not? Doe the first time have a front row seat and can see everything they are doing and how they’re reacting to it.

Because I don't think a lot of parents are very good at impartially assessing the academic progress of their kids, and we already know a lot of parents don't assess the emotional and mental health of their children well.

But then they aren’t really doing any worse now than they would be doing in general right?

No, it's very different. In non-DL, there are many more external and more impartial measurements going on, both formal and informal. There is a wider community that provides essentially continuous feedback, and that's largely not happening now. If you talk with teachers honestly (without flaming them or calling them lazy or other stupid insults), they'll often open up about how they don't have a lot of faith in formal assessments going on, and informal non-parental assessment has largely disappeared. The fact is, in DL the wide variety of inputs a thoughtful parent might get about their children is severely diminished.

Have you ever read any homeschool survivor forums? I have, and the "my kid is thriving!" posters sound remarkably like the parents of those kids. The kids themselves, particularly as adults, often have wildly different and typically more accurate assessments of their own educational progress, because they have to live with the results as adults.

I am sure there are some kids who are actually thriving, but I don't trust the assessment of most parents as to that point.

I agree with this. I am suspicious of anyone who says that their kids is "thriving." They might be doing well in school or enjoying aspects of DL like the ability to sleep in, but to me, the word "thrive" involves a comprehensive wellness that DL cannot provided. This is not to say that the need for the relationships, personal connections that come with in person learning require immediate return to school buildings. But part of education is building and even more navigating relationships, and that is missing with DL. I think this layoff will come at great cost, but hopefully we can get kids back to where they need to be.

My oldest child took largely duel enrollment classes, got all As, and learned a great deal about managing him time. However, he lacked in person connection with classmates and even with teachers and therefore, despite his good grades and general good humor, I won't say he is thriving. To the contrary, his development has been hampered by this period where he is completely out of touch with his peers, making it impossible to "thrive."

I honestly think that people who rave about DL are control freaks who want their children to be separated from the world. While my son socializes through video games, I don't consider that the type of socialization that a teenage boy needs to learn how to navigate the world. Life is about being around all types of people, those you like and those you don't. While they might be learning, they might be content or adopting, kids aren't connecting and therefore, are not thriving.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I don't trust many parents' assessments of how their children are "thriving" in DL.

Why not? Doe the first time have a front row seat and can see everything they are doing and how they’re reacting to it.

Because I don't think a lot of parents are very good at impartially assessing the academic progress of their kids, and we already know a lot of parents don't assess the emotional and mental health of their children well.

But then they aren’t really doing any worse now than they would be doing in general right?

No, it's very different. In non-DL, there are many more external and more impartial measurements going on, both formal and informal. There is a wider community that provides essentially continuous feedback, and that's largely not happening now. If you talk with teachers honestly (without flaming them or calling them lazy or other stupid insults), they'll often open up about how they don't have a lot of faith in formal assessments going on, and informal non-parental assessment has largely disappeared. The fact is, in DL the wide variety of inputs a thoughtful parent might get about their children is severely diminished.

Have you ever read any homeschool survivor forums? I have, and the "my kid is thriving!" posters sound remarkably like the parents of those kids. The kids themselves, particularly as adults, often have wildly different and typically more accurate assessments of their own educational progress, because they have to live with the results as adults.

I am sure there are some kids who are actually thriving, but I don't trust the assessment of most parents as to that point.

I agree with this. I am suspicious of anyone who says that their kids is "thriving." They might be doing well in school or enjoying aspects of DL like the ability to sleep in, but to me, the word "thrive" involves a comprehensive wellness that DL cannot provided. This is not to say that the need for the relationships, personal connections that come with in person learning require immediate return to school buildings. But part of education is building and even more navigating relationships, and that is missing with DL. I think this layoff will come at great cost, but hopefully we can get kids back to where they need to be.

My oldest child took largely duel enrollment classes, got all As, and learned a great deal about managing him time. However, he lacked in person connection with classmates and even with teachers and therefore, despite his good grades and general good humor, I won't say he is thriving. To the contrary, his development has been hampered by this period where he is completely out of touch with his peers, making it impossible to "thrive."

I honestly think that people who rave about DL are control freaks who want their children to be separated from the world. While my son socializes through video games, I don't consider that the type of socialization that a teenage boy needs to learn how to navigate the world. Life is about being around all types of people, those you like and those you don't. While they might be learning, they might be content or adopting, kids aren't connecting and therefore, are not thriving.

Spot.on. No one is ‘thriving’. We all are dealing with our current reality. Some things are working, others are not. But do not delude yourself into thinking that anyone is thriving.

And the more you claim they are, the less likely it becomes that things get back to normal. The Ed reform crowd will use this to their advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I don't trust many parents' assessments of how their children are "thriving" in DL.

Why not? Doe the first time have a front row seat and can see everything they are doing and how they’re reacting to it.

Because I don't think a lot of parents are very good at impartially assessing the academic progress of their kids, and we already know a lot of parents don't assess the emotional and mental health of their children well.

But then they aren’t really doing any worse now than they would be doing in general right?

No, it's very different. In non-DL, there are many more external and more impartial measurements going on, both formal and informal. There is a wider community that provides essentially continuous feedback, and that's largely not happening now. If you talk with teachers honestly (without flaming them or calling them lazy or other stupid insults), they'll often open up about how they don't have a lot of faith in formal assessments going on, and informal non-parental assessment has largely disappeared. The fact is, in DL the wide variety of inputs a thoughtful parent might get about their children is severely diminished.

Have you ever read any homeschool survivor forums? I have, and the "my kid is thriving!" posters sound remarkably like the parents of those kids. The kids themselves, particularly as adults, often have wildly different and typically more accurate assessments of their own educational progress, because they have to live with the results as adults.

I am sure there are some kids who are actually thriving, but I don't trust the assessment of most parents as to that point.

I agree with this. I am suspicious of anyone who says that their kids is "thriving." They might be doing well in school or enjoying aspects of DL like the ability to sleep in, but to me, the word "thrive" involves a comprehensive wellness that DL cannot provided. This is not to say that the need for the relationships, personal connections that come with in person learning require immediate return to school buildings. But part of education is building and even more navigating relationships, and that is missing with DL. I think this layoff will come at great cost, but hopefully we can get kids back to where they need to be.

My oldest child took largely duel enrollment classes, got all As, and learned a great deal about managing him time. However, he lacked in person connection with classmates and even with teachers and therefore, despite his good grades and general good humor, I won't say he is thriving. To the contrary, his development has been hampered by this period where he is completely out of touch with his peers, making it impossible to "thrive."

I honestly think that people who rave about DL are control freaks who want their children to be separated from the world. While my son socializes through video games, I don't consider that the type of socialization that a teenage boy needs to learn how to navigate the world. Life is about being around all types of people, those you like and those you don't. While they might be learning, they might be content or adopting, kids aren't connecting and therefore, are not thriving.

You can disagree but its not the point of the post and some of our kids are enjoying it and understand what is going on in the country/world with COVID. You are making it about you, your thoughts and your needs and that's fine but don't project that onto our children who are doing well. Mine are thriving and happy. Yes, I wanted my child separated from selfish people like you who have no issues spreading covid and teaching their kids poor values that their needs come before the community good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I don't trust many parents' assessments of how their children are "thriving" in DL.

Why not? Doe the first time have a front row seat and can see everything they are doing and how they’re reacting to it.

Because I don't think a lot of parents are very good at impartially assessing the academic progress of their kids, and we already know a lot of parents don't assess the emotional and mental health of their children well.

But then they aren’t really doing any worse now than they would be doing in general right?

No, it's very different. In non-DL, there are many more external and more impartial measurements going on, both formal and informal. There is a wider community that provides essentially continuous feedback, and that's largely not happening now. If you talk with teachers honestly (without flaming them or calling them lazy or other stupid insults), they'll often open up about how they don't have a lot of faith in formal assessments going on, and informal non-parental assessment has largely disappeared. The fact is, in DL the wide variety of inputs a thoughtful parent might get about their children is severely diminished.

Have you ever read any homeschool survivor forums? I have, and the "my kid is thriving!" posters sound remarkably like the parents of those kids. The kids themselves, particularly as adults, often have wildly different and typically more accurate assessments of their own educational progress, because they have to live with the results as adults.

I am sure there are some kids who are actually thriving, but I don't trust the assessment of most parents as to that point.

I agree with this. I am suspicious of anyone who says that their kids is "thriving." They might be doing well in school or enjoying aspects of DL like the ability to sleep in, but to me, the word "thrive" involves a comprehensive wellness that DL cannot provided. This is not to say that the need for the relationships, personal connections that come with in person learning require immediate return to school buildings. But part of education is building and even more navigating relationships, and that is missing with DL. I think this layoff will come at great cost, but hopefully we can get kids back to where they need to be.

My oldest child took largely duel enrollment classes, got all As, and learned a great deal about managing him time. However, he lacked in person connection with classmates and even with teachers and therefore, despite his good grades and general good humor, I won't say he is thriving. To the contrary, his development has been hampered by this period where he is completely out of touch with his peers, making it impossible to "thrive."

I honestly think that people who rave about DL are control freaks who want their children to be separated from the world. While my son socializes through video games, I don't consider that the type of socialization that a teenage boy needs to learn how to navigate the world. Life is about being around all types of people, those you like and those you don't. While they might be learning, they might be content or adopting, kids aren't connecting and therefore, are not thriving.

Spot.on. No one is ‘thriving’. We all are dealing with our current reality. Some things are working, others are not. But do not delude yourself into thinking that anyone is thriving.

And the more you claim they are, the less likely it becomes that things get back to normal. The Ed reform crowd will use this to their advantage.

Mine is thriving! How can you say they aren't?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I don't trust many parents' assessments of how their children are "thriving" in DL.

Why not? Doe the first time have a front row seat and can see everything they are doing and how they’re reacting to it.

Because I don't think a lot of parents are very good at impartially assessing the academic progress of their kids, and we already know a lot of parents don't assess the emotional and mental health of their children well.

But then they aren’t really doing any worse now than they would be doing in general right?

No, it's very different. In non-DL, there are many more external and more impartial measurements going on, both formal and informal. There is a wider community that provides essentially continuous feedback, and that's largely not happening now. If you talk with teachers honestly (without flaming them or calling them lazy or other stupid insults), they'll often open up about how they don't have a lot of faith in formal assessments going on, and informal non-parental assessment has largely disappeared. The fact is, in DL the wide variety of inputs a thoughtful parent might get about their children is severely diminished.

Have you ever read any homeschool survivor forums? I have, and the "my kid is thriving!" posters sound remarkably like the parents of those kids. The kids themselves, particularly as adults, often have wildly different and typically more accurate assessments of their own educational progress, because they have to live with the results as adults.

I am sure there are some kids who are actually thriving, but I don't trust the assessment of most parents as to that point.

I agree with this. I am suspicious of anyone who says that their kids is "thriving." They might be doing well in school or enjoying aspects of DL like the ability to sleep in, but to me, the word "thrive" involves a comprehensive wellness that DL cannot provided. This is not to say that the need for the relationships, personal connections that come with in person learning require immediate return to school buildings. But part of education is building and even more navigating relationships, and that is missing with DL. I think this layoff will come at great cost, but hopefully we can get kids back to where they need to be.

My oldest child took largely duel enrollment classes, got all As, and learned a great deal about managing him time. However, he lacked in person connection with classmates and even with teachers and therefore, despite his good grades and general good humor, I won't say he is thriving. To the contrary, his development has been hampered by this period where he is completely out of touch with his peers, making it impossible to "thrive."

I honestly think that people who rave about DL are control freaks who want their children to be separated from the world. While my son socializes through video games, I don't consider that the type of socialization that a teenage boy needs to learn how to navigate the world. Life is about being around all types of people, those you like and those you don't. While they might be learning, they might be content or adopting, kids aren't connecting and therefore, are not thriving.

You can disagree but its not the point of the post and some of our kids are enjoying it and understand what is going on in the country/world with COVID. You are making it about you, your thoughts and your needs and that's fine but don't project that onto our children who are doing well. Mine are thriving and happy. Yes, I wanted my child separated from selfish people like you who have no issues spreading covid and teaching their kids poor values that their needs come before the community good.

DP. The point is that we don't believe you when you claim your child is thriving, which makes any answer you give OP suspect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I don't trust many parents' assessments of how their children are "thriving" in DL.

Why not? Doe the first time have a front row seat and can see everything they are doing and how they’re reacting to it.

Because I don't think a lot of parents are very good at impartially assessing the academic progress of their kids, and we already know a lot of parents don't assess the emotional and mental health of their children well.

But then they aren’t really doing any worse now than they would be doing in general right?

No, it's very different. In non-DL, there are many more external and more impartial measurements going on, both formal and informal. There is a wider community that provides essentially continuous feedback, and that's largely not happening now. If you talk with teachers honestly (without flaming them or calling them lazy or other stupid insults), they'll often open up about how they don't have a lot of faith in formal assessments going on, and informal non-parental assessment has largely disappeared. The fact is, in DL the wide variety of inputs a thoughtful parent might get about their children is severely diminished.

Have you ever read any homeschool survivor forums? I have, and the "my kid is thriving!" posters sound remarkably like the parents of those kids. The kids themselves, particularly as adults, often have wildly different and typically more accurate assessments of their own educational progress, because they have to live with the results as adults.

I am sure there are some kids who are actually thriving, but I don't trust the assessment of most parents as to that point.

I agree with this. I am suspicious of anyone who says that their kids is "thriving." They might be doing well in school or enjoying aspects of DL like the ability to sleep in, but to me, the word "thrive" involves a comprehensive wellness that DL cannot provided. This is not to say that the need for the relationships, personal connections that come with in person learning require immediate return to school buildings. But part of education is building and even more navigating relationships, and that is missing with DL. I think this layoff will come at great cost, but hopefully we can get kids back to where they need to be.

My oldest child took largely duel enrollment classes, got all As, and learned a great deal about managing him time. However, he lacked in person connection with classmates and even with teachers and therefore, despite his good grades and general good humor, I won't say he is thriving. To the contrary, his development has been hampered by this period where he is completely out of touch with his peers, making it impossible to "thrive."

I honestly think that people who rave about DL are control freaks who want their children to be separated from the world. While my son socializes through video games, I don't consider that the type of socialization that a teenage boy needs to learn how to navigate the world. Life is about being around all types of people, those you like and those you don't. While they might be learning, they might be content or adopting, kids aren't connecting and therefore, are not thriving.

You can disagree but its not the point of the post and some of our kids are enjoying it and understand what is going on in the country/world with COVID. You are making it about you, your thoughts and your needs and that's fine but don't project that onto our children who are doing well. Mine are thriving and happy. Yes, I wanted my child separated from selfish people like you who have no issues spreading covid and teaching their kids poor values that their needs come before the community good.

PP here. I don't think you understand the point of my post, which is filled with typos for which I apologize. I wrote it quickly. It doesn't matter if DL works for your child or mine or whether it is the right thing to do in light of COVID. It is what it is. Nothing I said was about my needs or interests. From your writing, it appears that English might not be your first language. My post is based on the conventional understanding of the definition of "thrive" which means growing, prospering, and developing. Thriving is not just being happy under the circumstances and not just learning well enough. It is about development, and unquestionable, aspects of children's development are being hindered under these circumstances. Again, this is the reality, and says nothing about my feelings about schools being open. In fact, this goes beyond school issues, because any responsible adult in this country, and I am one, is not allowing their children to have normal and active in-person learning and socializing because it is not safe and such behavior increases community spread. It is fine that kids are happy and doing fine in school under these less than ideal circumstances. My teenaged son is fine and doing well. Still, I understand that not all children are and have great empathy for those who are struggling.

I'm not sure where you get the impression that we are behaving selfishly, given that my son does not engage in normal interaction in person with his friends, who he misses greatly. He also doesn't have a job, which he should at this age, due to concerns about COVID risk for our household. Even for kids who interact with their friends outdoors or masked or whatever, they aren't engaging in social interaction that is necessary for their development. That is a fact. We should make do in order to get through the pandemic. However, if you cannot understand that no child is thriving, which means developing in all aspects his or her being, consider that you might be embracing isolation and detachment from the world in an unhealthy way.