So are some daycares and preschools planning on masking forever then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this was that serious to you, you'd find an alternate childcare arrangement. Nanny, nanny share, family help, in-home daycare provider with looser restrictions. Stop complaining and solve the problem.

This comment is nonsensical. First of all, surely anyone with two brain cells to rub together realizes that not everyone has a ton of childcare options. Like if your options for childcare really are "nanny, nanny share, family help, in-home provider with looser restrictions, daycare," congratulations! You are incredibly privileged and well-resourced and life must be a lot easier for you than it is for the rest of us. Most of us have really limited childcare options. It's more like "daycare near my house or daycare near my work." Or "daycare I like and that we can barely afford, or daycare I feel not great about but that is in budget." That kind of thing.

But second, if you are fine with kids going to in-home daycares with looser restrictions, you are obviously not personally invested in masking young children as a Covid mitigation measure. A lot of people justify these masking requirements by arguing that kids are disease vectors and they have to mask to keep everyone else safe, since kids themselves don't seem to be particularly vulnerable to Covid. If you don't think this, you should support removing mask mandates for daycares and preschools, since it's apparently not a useful mitigation measure and it places a major burden on very young kids and their families.

So which is it? Are you just a tone deaf rich person or a hypocrite, or both?

Yes I am aware of the challenge of childcare and guess what - I figured it out! Without expecting childcare providers to put their health at risk or expecting other kids to sit around exposed to my child. maskless all day.

As to your second point, obviously parents that are hysterical on this point are not taking covid precautions at all so I really don't care what they do with their kids. Clearly their families aren't taking precautions so have at it.

You "figured it out" or you paid for the problem to go away? Does your child attend a daycare with a strict masking policy or not. Until you answer this question, everything else you says is suspect.

If your child doesn't mask all day, stfu as you don't get to tell others to deal with something you don't deal with.

Also, if your child doesn't mask all day, do you not care about the health and well being of the childcare workers being exposed to your child? Quelle horreur!

DP but I took a gigantic pay cut to move because of masking toddlers. Choices sometimes cost, yes. My children are worth it.

To PP’s point, there *are* options, just not the *ideal* options for you. We’re two years into the pandemic, DC and MOCO have shown their colors and at this point you’re the idiot if you think it’s going to change.

This made me laugh out loud. That is absolutely ridiculous and a hilarious overreaction to masking. You must have a real easy life devoid of actual hardship if *that* is your reaction to wearing a mask. And the air of superiority with the whole "choices sometimes cost, you poors, and my little precious privileged babies are worth it, contrary to what you, the unwashed masses, are willing to do...clearly your children are not worth it you"...

I am a parent of a child who was 3 when the pandemic started and masking is at the bottom of my list of things to lose sleep over. Life is hard and it has certainly knocked me around, and my child wearing a mask is a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


I call BS as well. I work all day every day with children with a wide range of special needs (including those with trauma issues)and for the past 2 years (minus the 2 months during which we were closed and I did not see the children), I have not seen a single child traumatized or developing a disorder due to wearing masks. Come on now. That is just beyond ridiculous. Stop projecting your psychosis onto your children.

And there are plenty of professionals who will disagree with you. Some are quoted here, since you certainly won't believe me: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/28/1075842341/growing-calls-to-take-masks-off-children-in-school

Our child's therapist told us at the start our child's condition is easier to treat if she does not wear a mask. There is no way to know the impact of masking on young children and I think the WHO and the EU did the right thing in recommending against it, no question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - advocating for your kids is one thing. Starting political movements to enforce “parental choice” in private businesses is another. And starting conspiracy theories that masks cause ADHD or ASD is complete BS. And yes, I have a SN child. I do not demand that institutions change. I make my decisions on where to send them and what accommodations to ask for without being a dick. Overwhelmingly in the past 3 months posts I have seen complaining about masks have either painted any opposition as hysterical, make unfounded claims about anyone who continues to mask, and frankly is bullying. Whether you are or not, I don’t know, and perhaps this is a call for you to reconsider your posts. but the online forums I’m on, definitely. And I suspect MANY actually SN parents will tell you thatparents of neurotypical kids frequently dismiss the needs of SN peers.

Here’s the thing- most of these childcares are just following the guidance provided. Which is understandable! Ours has said that once the CDC, state, and MoCo no longer recommend universal masking in childcares, they will go mask optional. The CDC and state have shifted in this direction as long as the area is not in high transmission. But MoCo is going to thwart this by coming up with their own special recommendations. Why shouldn’t I advocate to county leaders to follow the federal/state experts? Do you never contact your elected officials about anything?

My family has been incredibly patient and followed all the rules, got our vaccines when eligible. But when it became clear that there is no timetable for EUA the vaccine for kids under 5, yet still these public health officials want to tie restrictions on this age group to vaccines, I lost my patience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this was that serious to you, you'd find an alternate childcare arrangement. Nanny, nanny share, family help, in-home daycare provider with looser restrictions. Stop complaining and solve the problem.

This comment is nonsensical. First of all, surely anyone with two brain cells to rub together realizes that not everyone has a ton of childcare options. Like if your options for childcare really are "nanny, nanny share, family help, in-home provider with looser restrictions, daycare," congratulations! You are incredibly privileged and well-resourced and life must be a lot easier for you than it is for the rest of us. Most of us have really limited childcare options. It's more like "daycare near my house or daycare near my work." Or "daycare I like and that we can barely afford, or daycare I feel not great about but that is in budget." That kind of thing.

But second, if you are fine with kids going to in-home daycares with looser restrictions, you are obviously not personally invested in masking young children as a Covid mitigation measure. A lot of people justify these masking requirements by arguing that kids are disease vectors and they have to mask to keep everyone else safe, since kids themselves don't seem to be particularly vulnerable to Covid. If you don't think this, you should support removing mask mandates for daycares and preschools, since it's apparently not a useful mitigation measure and it places a major burden on very young kids and their families.

So which is it? Are you just a tone deaf rich person or a hypocrite, or both?

Yes I am aware of the challenge of childcare and guess what - I figured it out! Without expecting childcare providers to put their health at risk or expecting other kids to sit around exposed to my child. maskless all day.

As to your second point, obviously parents that are hysterical on this point are not taking covid precautions at all so I really don't care what they do with their kids. Clearly their families aren't taking precautions so have at it.

You "figured it out" or you paid for the problem to go away? Does your child attend a daycare with a strict masking policy or not. Until you answer this question, everything else you says is suspect.

If your child doesn't mask all day, stfu as you don't get to tell others to deal with something you don't deal with.

Also, if your child doesn't mask all day, do you not care about the health and well being of the childcare workers being exposed to your child? Quelle horreur!

DP but I took a gigantic pay cut to move because of masking toddlers. Choices sometimes cost, yes. My children are worth it.

To PP’s point, there *are* options, just not the *ideal* options for you. We’re two years into the pandemic, DC and MOCO have shown their colors and at this point you’re the idiot if you think it’s going to change.

Really? That's bizarre, considering there are plenty of in-home daycares in MD and VA (not sure about DC) that don't require toddlers to mask. I would go that route first. Oh well.

NP. There's also plenty of daycare centers in VA that don't require masks, since VA never had a mandate for children under 5.

Name them. Guessing you didn’t have a 2 year-old in 2020.

No, I had a 4yo and an infant, both of whom have been in daycare continuously since July 2020.
Multiple daycare centers in eastern Loudoun and western Fairfax. Reston/Chantilly/Herndon/Sterling/Ashburn. I’ve posted this before, but I have several coworkers and friends who have children in daycares throughout this area, and NONE of them require masks for the 2-5 set. The assumption that this was a universal requirement all over NoVA is false,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If this was that serious to you, you'd find an alternate childcare arrangement. Nanny, nanny share, family help, in-home daycare provider with looser restrictions. Stop complaining and solve the problem.

This comment is nonsensical. First of all, surely anyone with two brain cells to rub together realizes that not everyone has a ton of childcare options. Like if your options for childcare really are "nanny, nanny share, family help, in-home provider with looser restrictions, daycare," congratulations! You are incredibly privileged and well-resourced and life must be a lot easier for you than it is for the rest of us. Most of us have really limited childcare options. It's more like "daycare near my house or daycare near my work." Or "daycare I like and that we can barely afford, or daycare I feel not great about but that is in budget." That kind of thing.

But second, if you are fine with kids going to in-home daycares with looser restrictions, you are obviously not personally invested in masking young children as a Covid mitigation measure. A lot of people justify these masking requirements by arguing that kids are disease vectors and they have to mask to keep everyone else safe, since kids themselves don't seem to be particularly vulnerable to Covid. If you don't think this, you should support removing mask mandates for daycares and preschools, since it's apparently not a useful mitigation measure and it places a major burden on very young kids and their families.

So which is it? Are you just a tone deaf rich person or a hypocrite, or both?

Yes I am aware of the challenge of childcare and guess what - I figured it out! Without expecting childcare providers to put their health at risk or expecting other kids to sit around exposed to my child. maskless all day.

As to your second point, obviously parents that are hysterical on this point are not taking covid precautions at all so I really don't care what they do with their kids. Clearly their families aren't taking precautions so have at it.

You "figured it out" or you paid for the problem to go away? Does your child attend a daycare with a strict masking policy or not. Until you answer this question, everything else you says is suspect.

If your child doesn't mask all day, stfu as you don't get to tell others to deal with something you don't deal with.

Also, if your child doesn't mask all day, do you not care about the health and well being of the childcare workers being exposed to your child? Quelle horreur!

DP but I took a gigantic pay cut to move because of masking toddlers. Choices sometimes cost, yes. My children are worth it.

To PP’s point, there *are* options, just not the *ideal* options for you. We’re two years into the pandemic, DC and MOCO have shown their colors and at this point you’re the idiot if you think it’s going to change.

Really? That's bizarre, considering there are plenty of in-home daycares in MD and VA (not sure about DC) that don't require toddlers to mask. I would go that route first. Oh well.

NP. There's also plenty of daycare centers in VA that don't require masks, since VA never had a mandate for children under 5.

Name them. Guessing you didn’t have a 2 year-old in 2020.

No, I had a 4yo and an infant, both of whom have been in daycare continuously since July 2020.
Multiple daycare centers in eastern Loudoun and western Fairfax. Reston/Chantilly/Herndon/Sterling/Ashburn. I’ve posted this before, but I have several coworkers and friends who have children in daycares throughout this area, and NONE of them require masks for the 2-5 set. The assumption that this was a universal requirement all over NoVA is false,

Ok name them, these imaginary ones that apparently *never* enforced masking two year olds. This is where we looked, would love to know which daycares lied about masking 2 year olds, if they really were not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


I call BS as well. I work all day every day with children with a wide range of special needs (including those with trauma issues)and for the past 2 years (minus the 2 months during which we were closed and I did not see the children), I have not seen a single child traumatized or developing a disorder due to wearing masks. Come on now. That is just beyond ridiculous. Stop projecting your psychosis onto your children.

And there are plenty of professionals who will disagree with you. Some are quoted here, since you certainly won't believe me: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/28/1075842341/growing-calls-to-take-masks-off-children-in-school

Our child's therapist told us at the start our child's condition is easier to treat if she does not wear a mask. There is no way to know the impact of masking on young children and I think the WHO and the EU did the right thing in recommending against it, no question.

And other experts are quoted here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/03/05/baby-masks-slow-to-speak/

I mean, really, blind kids learn how to speak. And if the problem is kids not seeing faces, then really it’s not about whether the parents have the choice to mask their kids, but whether the teachers should be forced to take off theirs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


I call BS as well. I work all day every day with children with a wide range of special needs (including those with trauma issues)and for the past 2 years (minus the 2 months during which we were closed and I did not see the children), I have not seen a single child traumatized or developing a disorder due to wearing masks. Come on now. That is just beyond ridiculous. Stop projecting your psychosis onto your children.

And there are plenty of professionals who will disagree with you. Some are quoted here, since you certainly won't believe me: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/28/1075842341/growing-calls-to-take-masks-off-children-in-school

Our child's therapist told us at the start our child's condition is easier to treat if she does not wear a mask. There is no way to know the impact of masking on young children and I think the WHO and the EU did the right thing in recommending against it, no question.

And other experts are quoted here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/03/05/baby-masks-slow-to-speak/

I mean, really, blind kids learn how to speak. And if the problem is kids not seeing faces, then really it’s not about whether the parents have the choice to mask their kids, but whether the teachers should be forced to take off theirs.

The rate of developmental disabilities is higher in blind children than in others. I'm really shocked that the AAP or any expert uses that as proof that masks can't harm children's development.

[Anonymous]

Just going to reiterate that for many of us, it's not masking itself that is the problem, but continuous masking through our kids' prime language and social development years. I will wear a mask in public places in perpetuity if necessary -- I don't have any problem with masks. I am concerned about the fact that my 4yo has been masked daily for 2 years and may be force to continue to mask for at least under 6 months (until she turns 5 and can get vaccinate) if not longer. I don't think wearing a mask for a day or a week or even a few months hurts kids, but I have real questions about whether we should be masking these kids for actual years.

We've made choices in order to minimize our kids masking (not doing after care, doing PT preschool instead of FT during 2020-2021, taking unpaid time off from work in order to be home with our 2-4yo so that she does not have to spend 8 hours a day in a mask. I was fine making these sacrifices for a long time but at this point I think it's clear her masking is not doing a lot of good and I think it's unreasonable to expect kids this age to do something that might be harmful to their development unless we know for sure that there is a real benefit. Her teachers are vaccinated, her family is vaccinated. She is at low risk. This seems like a no brainer to me and I'm baffled by people who advocate to keep masking children this age indefinitely. I don't understand how you can really believe this doesn't have a negative impact over long periods of time.

[Anonymous]

from talking to a friend who is a preschool administrator- the problem is that the group of parents who want universal masking feel VERY strongly about it. And are saying things like 'if masks are not mandated, they will instruct their child not to play with an unmasked child, to refuse to sit by an unmasked child, etc.' Given that preschool is really all about learning how to get along- to have parents telling their kids to refuse to play with some children is an untenable situation for a preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:from talking to a friend who is a preschool administrator- the problem is that the group of parents who want universal masking feel VERY strongly about it. And are saying things like 'if masks are not mandated, they will instruct their child not to play with an unmasked child, to refuse to sit by an unmasked child, etc.' Given that preschool is really all about learning how to get along- to have parents telling their kids to refuse to play with some children is an untenable situation for a preschool.

The simple solution would be to ask those parents to take their business elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's daycare had a teacher who died of COVID (she didn't catch it at the daycare), so I think they're being understandably cautious and I'm okay with that.

Same here. The last two years have been traumatic, more due to loss of life than wearing a mask. My kids are not traumatized by masks, and none of the other kids in their daycare are, either. I have a 2 year old, a 4 year old and a 6 year old for PP who said anyone who doesn’t understand must not have young children. I am sure there are some children who have difficulty wearing a mask but I haven’t met many.

I am so sorry for the loss of your respective teachers. We have masked our child without complaint for 12 months out of respect for the teachers and the trauma that you speak of. She has not done well since we started masking her, and while we are paying a therapist a lot of money to deal with the issue, we do think taking off the mask would make things easier for her. She is only a toddler, and her cloth mask is not protecting anybody.

Be grateful your child is not struggling the way mine is. Watching her suffer is excruciating.

We are the same- masking has been devastating for our family. It’s so frustrating that families don’t have compassion for children who really have suffered. Our kids behavior has gotten terrible, extreme mood issues, ADHD diagnosis etc. we have worked with doctors, therapists, etc. kids are on multiple medications. We switched to Catholic schools and the last few weeks with no masks have been like having a new kid- we even dropped dosage on medication( workers with our doctor)

Speaking to our psychologist she says that the number of kids with ADHD /ASD type symptoms has sky rocketed- but they they don’t know if it’s a true diagnosis or the masks. For certain many kids are being medicated who wouldn’t need to in non- mask years.

Just because your kid is fine in masks doesn’t mean all kids are. Ignoring others suffering while pretending that masks is essential is not a sting morale stance.

I call BS. How do masks cause autism or adhd? My kid has ADHD. It is not from masks. We have friends with ASD, also not from masks. The behavior I see in his peers is more from the parenting they’ve been under in the past 2 years than masks. If parents constantly complain and berate public schools, teachers, etc. their kids feel entitled to treat others like dirt. I also think many parents were in denial prior to covid since they weren’t around their kids, and being in closer contact made them realize they have behavior issues.

I am fine with the mask mandate being dropped/masks optional. But I am not okay with parents continuing to try to influence institutional policy. If your child is suffering either find them a babysitter, move them to a different school. That is what special needs parents have done forever. Yes, it is hard, yes, it is easier if you have $$$. But trying to “advocate” and bully schools and businesses into meeting your needs is ridiculous.

what psychologist is attributing adhd and asd to masks?! that is bizarre and based on nothing at all. psychologist here and masks aren't causing any known mental health harm. in fact i've heard a lot more patients worried about the removal of mask mandates in the past few weeks then i've ever heard a kid concerned about wearing one. https://newrepublic.com/article/165306/face-masks-dont-harm-kids-development

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's daycare had a teacher who died of COVID (she didn't catch it at the daycare), so I think they're being understandably cautious and I'm okay with that.

Same here. The last two years have been traumatic, more due to loss of life than wearing a mask. My kids are not traumatized by masks, and none of the other kids in their daycare are, either. I have a 2 year old, a 4 year old and a 6 year old for PP who said anyone who doesn’t understand must not have young children. I am sure there are some children who have difficulty wearing a mask but I haven’t met many.

I am so sorry for the loss of your respective teachers. We have masked our child without complaint for 12 months out of respect for the teachers and the trauma that you speak of. She has not done well since we started masking her, and while we are paying a therapist a lot of money to deal with the issue, we do think taking off the mask would make things easier for her. She is only a toddler, and her cloth mask is not protecting anybody.

Be grateful your child is not struggling the way mine is. Watching her suffer is excruciating.

We are the same- masking has been devastating for our family. It’s so frustrating that families don’t have compassion for children who really have suffered. Our kids behavior has gotten terrible, extreme mood issues, ADHD diagnosis etc. we have worked with doctors, therapists, etc. kids are on multiple medications. We switched to Catholic schools and the last few weeks with no masks have been like having a new kid- we even dropped dosage on medication( workers with our doctor)

Speaking to our psychologist she says that the number of kids with ADHD /ASD type symptoms has sky rocketed- but they they don’t know if it’s a true diagnosis or the masks. For certain many kids are being medicated who wouldn’t need to in non- mask years.

Just because your kid is fine in masks doesn’t mean all kids are. Ignoring others suffering while pretending that masks is essential is not a sting morale stance.

I call BS. How do masks cause autism or adhd? My kid has ADHD. It is not from masks. We have friends with ASD, also not from masks. The behavior I see in his peers is more from the parenting they’ve been under in the past 2 years than masks. If parents constantly complain and berate public schools, teachers, etc. their kids feel entitled to treat others like dirt. I also think many parents were in denial prior to covid since they weren’t around their kids, and being in closer contact made them realize they have behavior issues.

I am fine with the mask mandate being dropped/masks optional. But I am not okay with parents continuing to try to influence institutional policy. If your child is suffering either find them a babysitter, move them to a different school. That is what special needs parents have done forever. Yes, it is hard, yes, it is easier if you have $$$. But trying to “advocate” and bully schools and businesses into meeting your needs is ridiculous.

what psychologist is attributing adhd and asd to masks?! that is bizarre and based on nothing at all. psychologist here and masks aren't causing any known mental health harm. in fact i've heard a lot more patients worried about the removal of mask mandates in the past few weeks then i've ever heard a kid concerned about wearing one. https://newrepublic.com/article/165306/face-masks-dont-harm-kids-development

You again? How many toddlers or preschoolers do you treat? You have no idea what the impact of masking is as it has never been studied, so stop coming on here pretending you know anything about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:from talking to a friend who is a preschool administrator- the problem is that the group of parents who want universal masking feel VERY strongly about it. And are saying things like 'if masks are not mandated, they will instruct their child not to play with an unmasked child, to refuse to sit by an unmasked child, etc.' Given that preschool is really all about learning how to get along- to have parents telling their kids to refuse to play with some children is an untenable situation for a preschool.

The simple solution would be to ask those parents to take their business elsewhere.

+1. I'm tired of catering to these parents, and I really question why they think masking is effective in a daycare situation anyway, for all the reasons already discussed.

I know school-aged kids can be vaccinated, but there are a fair number of parents like this at our ES too. Yet MCPS is set to remove the mandate anyway. Placating anxious parents who are going to push exclusionary behavior on their kids is still not a good reason to mandate universal masking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


I call BS as well. I work all day every day with children with a wide range of special needs (including those with trauma issues)and for the past 2 years (minus the 2 months during which we were closed and I did not see the children), I have not seen a single child traumatized or developing a disorder due to wearing masks. Come on now. That is just beyond ridiculous. Stop projecting your psychosis onto your children.

And there are plenty of professionals who will disagree with you. Some are quoted here, since you certainly won't believe me: https://www.npr.org/2022/01/28/1075842341/growing-calls-to-take-masks-off-children-in-school

Our child's therapist told us at the start our child's condition is easier to treat if she does not wear a mask. There is no way to know the impact of masking on young children and I think the WHO and the EU did the right thing in recommending against it, no question.

And other experts are quoted here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/03/05/baby-masks-slow-to-speak/

I mean, really, blind kids learn how to speak. And if the problem is kids not seeing faces, then really it’s not about whether the parents have the choice to mask their kids, but whether the teachers should be forced to take off theirs.

The rate of developmental disabilities is higher in blind children than in others. I'm really shocked that the AAP or any expert uses that as proof that masks can't harm children's development.

Your cause effect here is spectacularly bad. The most common cause of vision impairment in kids in the US is brain damage. Yes, many of those kids have other disabilities.

[Anonymous]

I'm in Illinois and our preschool has no plans to make masks optional even though the preschool across the street did so last week. I pre-paid for the whole year or I'd switch. I asked the director and she said the parents at our preschool (very small, only 11 kids) feel very strongly about keeping the masks. These are the kind of people who wear masks outdoors at pickup. I asked around and the consensus seemed to be that the other parents want to keep masks until the young kids can be vaccinated. I'm very disappointed.