Reply to Daycare mandating masks for 2+

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Reply to "Daycare mandating masks for 2+"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I would prefer a masking policy just for kids with cold symptoms. And then require a proper KN95 style mask. The issue with a mask mandate, especially for this age, is that it just results in a bunch of kids wearing cloth and paper masks poorly. They get damp almost immediately and it renders them ineffective, and the kids' small faces means it's hard to find a good fit. The kids get uncomfortable and are constantly taking them off or letting them sag, and the teachers have to decide whether to police them or just let it go.

To me the best policy is:

1) Strict guidelines for when kids are sent home based on fevers (easy to take temps when kids are on the way into school to enforce this -- lots of daycares do this at this point) and signs of lethargy or serious illness. Kids with those symptoms shouldn't be at school, for their sake and that of others. If you want to require tests for Covid/RSV/flu that's fine too, but be really clear about what kinds of tests are allowed (can it be OTC or does it have to be at a doctor, when or how often do you need to test, be realistic about what families can do).

2) Provide KN95 masks for kids who are fever free and who have cold symptoms. School should provide the masks -- in general I think in all settings where masks are required, the setting should provide appropriate masks because it's way easier to bulk supply them than to put that on individuals.

3) Enforce good hygiene habits generally. Especially in a preschool where they are learning these skills for the future. Regular handwashing especially after using the bathroom or before eating. Frequent reminders not to put things in their mouths or to keep their mouths away from other people (yes the kids will do it anyway but part of preschool is teaching them not to). Teaching kids when it's okay to touch things and when it's not okay to touch things -- I remember at that age having to teach my kids not to run their hands along every wall and railing when we were out in the city, and explaining why (very effective to just explain to kids that dogs pee on freaking everything everywhere). Again this is a normal preschool skill to teach. Preschool is about learning to be a person in the world.

I don't think we should just accept that illness is going to spread unchecked in schools and it's reasonable to ask people to make a good faith effort to limit it. But also blanket masking policies or draconian threats to send a kid home if they sneeze or cough at all don't make sense. They are impossible to enforce and just encourage people to try and skirt the rules because they are unreasonable.[/quote]

You think 2-year-olds are going to wear KN95s? Come on now.[/quote]

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