We just don’t know. We will do what’s is safest. It’s hard to not be able to plan.

That’ all we say.

My tween and teen read about it online before me. They know that it’s up in the air. Occasionally my teen will talk about it would be funny to take tests outside like he has seen the South Korean high school students doing but that is about the extent of our discussions We do, however, discuss what we do now in terms of masks and social distancing will impact what school looks like in 2020/2021 and we are doing are part not to spread the virus.

Anonymous wrote:I told my rising K'er that he starts Kindergarten in the fall. Once I know what that looks like, I will tell him more. I can tell him the week before - what is the point of loading him up with uncertainty. "Maybe you will go on a bus, maybe you won't. Maybe you will go to the school, maybe you won't." What is the point of loading up such a young kid on uncertainty? He's living his best life right now with a summer nanny who pampers him, plus summer gymnastic camp. Why mess with it until there is something to tell him? I can understand with older kids though.

ITA. Don’t spread your anxiety to your kid. At that age, I’d give them a heads up about school no more than a week to ten days in advance. The summer would be about enjoying the here and now. Live in the moment....like your kid does.

My 5th grader understands the very low likelihood hood of having a close friend in the class ( they are opposite ends of alphabet from her). She understands the stark classroom set up and mask requirements. She does not want to wear a mask or return under those circumstances. She’s also afraid she’ll be isolated like Spring if school shuts down. We are arranging homeschooling with two friends. I think she will have a fun year of outdoor field trips, kitchen science experiments and safe social engagement. She’s looking forward to it.

Kindergarten's so easy. He has no expectations. Whatever happens the first week is what he will think school is. And if it changes, he doesn't know any better. For all he knows, in September kindergarten is like this, and then in October we all do the other thing.

Be prepared - kindergarten can be really hard on kids at first, and they can fall apart in the afternoons and evenings until they adjust (even if they've been going to full day preschool). You might think he's falling apart because everything is so weird, but he probably is just falling apart because it is all new to him.

My Kindergartner is at a prek3-8th grade school so she had a clear idea of what to expect from K this fall. For that reason we’ve told her about every possible scenario but to expect that school in person won’t happen or that even in the best scenario maybe it will be a few hours a day or a few days a week, with masks and lunch in her room and no moving around campus. But we also got her a desk and a lamp and fancy school supplies from the Japanese bookstore and said we’ll set it all up if school in person doesn’t happen. She’s sad to not do some of the special kindergarten traditions but excited about her cute masks and the potential for her very own desk. Her babysitter is in college and in the same situation and it’s helped to know that the “big kids“ (we are in a college town) are going through the same thing. I get that some kids do better if they don’t have to think about it, but mine needs details and time to accept things.

We haven’t gotten the final word yet from my riding first grader’s school yet but we’ve talked to him about continuing remotely and not seeing friends in the fall. We’re in Southern California and have terrible numbers here especially in Orange County where we live. School even two days a week isn’t likely.

I told my 2nd grader it was likely going to being with 2 days in-person and the rest distance. He didn't seem phased by it - at least not yet. I'm sure it will hit him once it's a reality .. really hoping the 2 in-person days will stick to establish a foundation with all the new teachers and friends, at the very least. Both my kids (rising 2 and K) understand that things just aren't normal right now.