Oof. These comments, man. Yikes. There’s only a few accurate comments here. Looking at an eclipse, with the appropriate eye protection, for just a few seconds can absolutely damage a person’s eyes! Even if it isn’t painful, damage is still occurring. And heck yes, looking at an eclipse IS worse than just looking at the sun on any other day.

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the eclipse on Sunday?

Anyway, your kid has the opportunity to look at the sun everyday. Not sure the risk will rise much on eclipse day.

The reason why the risk rises is that during a partial eclipse, your eyes don't respond in the same way, by squinting or becoming uncomfortable. Normally, your toddler isn't going to look at the sun long enough to injure his eyes because his instinct is to look away. During an eclipse that instinct isn't there.

Daycares should keep the kids inside. That's the obvious solution.

We had to sign a permission slip at our daycare.

Anonymous wrote:Not concerned with my kids' daycare because at the time of the eclipse (from 1-4 pm), the kids will be napping (1-3/3:30) and finishing their afternoon snacks (3:30-4ish) before going out for playtime towards the end of the eclipse time (3:45/4ish).

I was going to ask my daycare if they were watching the eclipse, and then I realized it fell in the middle of naptime.

My kid will catch the next one.

Anonymous wrote:A parent at our daycare is bringing telescopes and got glasses for all the kids so my understanding is that they are letting them outside.

I'd have a major problem with this. Kids need to be supervised with the glasses and if they are not wearing them correctly they could damage their eyes. Our daycare is not taking kids outside during 1-4PM. You should do some research on the glasses and eclipse before you send your child off on Monday...many glasses are not even safe when used properly.

Anonymous wrote:How do some people even get up in the morning?

I hate to condone/contribute to any snarkiness, but this was too good....

A parent at our daycare is bringing telescopes and got glasses for all the kids so my understanding is that they are letting them outside.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Isn't the eclipse on Sunday?

Anyway, your kid has the opportunity to look at the sun everyday. Not sure the risk will rise much on eclipse day.

No, Monday, August 21.

I'm thinking because the sun is more interesting to look at than usual, my toddler might look at it.

I don't think it will be (to a toddler). But really the question seems to stem from the major misunderstanding that something about the eclipse increases the danger of looking at the sun. Same danger. Does your kid know not to look at the sun?

Normally mammals know to not stare at the sun because it painful. During the eclipse, the sun will be slightly less bright than normal and it may be enough that the protective instinct to look away is not engaged and damage is done.

During the eclipse, in this area, the sun will be about the same intensity as a normal sundown/dusk. Does your child look at the setting sun?

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to preschool at a NASA site, and they flat out will not take the kids out to view. They have provided glasses to each kid's parent and invited them to come take their kids to look if they want.

Interesting. I thought I was the only parent from that preschool who read DCUM regularly. I will be taking my kids to the employee viewing that day. Are you?

-NASA guy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the eclipse on Sunday?

Anyway, your kid has the opportunity to look at the sun everyday. Not sure the risk will rise much on eclipse day.

No, Monday, August 21.

I'm thinking because the sun is more interesting to look at than usual, my toddler might look at it.

I don't think it will be (to a toddler). But really the question seems to stem from the major misunderstanding that something about the eclipse increases the danger of looking at the sun. Same danger. Does your kid know not to look at the sun?

Normally mammals know to not stare at the sun because it painful. During the eclipse, the sun will be slightly less bright than normal and it may be enough that the protective instinct to look away is not engaged and damage is done.

Bright Horizons told us parents that their company policy is no kids allowed outside during the eclipse.

Anonymous wrote:Not concerned with my kids' daycare because at the time of the eclipse (from 1-4 pm), the kids will be napping (1-3/3:30) and finishing their afternoon snacks (3:30-4ish) before going out for playtime towards the end of the eclipse time (3:45/4ish).

Thanks! I came out here with the same question as OP, but this is true for my daycare too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't the eclipse on Sunday?

Anyway, your kid has the opportunity to look at the sun everyday. Not sure the risk will rise much on eclipse day.

No, Monday, August 21.

I'm thinking because the sun is more interesting to look at than usual, my toddler might look at it.

I don't think it will be (to a toddler). But really the question seems to stem from the major misunderstanding that something about the eclipse increases the danger of looking at the sun. Same danger. Does your kid know not to look at the sun?