My DD's former preschool/current camp has been open since June, no cases and no closures. She's been doing a nanny share with a friend and just went back to school/camp this week. Friend is on vacation and she was really unhappy at home being ignored by two working parents, so we sent her this week. I feel totally fine with the decision - it's good for us, good for her, and they clearly have their protocols worked out since they haven't had any cases.

I would not have sent her to school in the fall though (though it's DL so a non-issue anymore) - those spots should be reserved for the at risk and special needs kids who NEED to be in public school. Keeping my kid home lessens the risk for those families and the teachers in the building. I really wish they could have figured out how to re-open for those limited populations, those kids and families are going to suffer from the extended closures, even if it's the right public health decision.

Anonymous wrote:Yes. It will lessen the spread of the virus. We don’t need preschool or daycare childcare. We aren’t sending DD.

So much privilege in this thread my head is about to explode.

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Anonymous wrote:Don’t you all realize a nanny is way less safe? You have no clue what the nanny is doing at home and if she gets sick you’re screwed.

A well run preschool is safer and you have a backup if a teacher has to leave.

Our nanny is live-in. We know exactly what she’s doing and she is completely isolating with us.

Poor woman.

"Need" is far too subjective.

Do some parents judge others who have 2 teleworking parents that they don't really "need" childcare? Absolutely. Is it hellish to have to telework with young kids running around because you don't have childcare or school? Absolutely.

There is no firm criteria on defining need as well as what the "responsible thing" is to do here.

Also consider there are special needs kids who need to attend school and CANNOT effectively use distance learning. Not every special needs kid is obvious or has a label on their forehead to proclaim that they "need" to attend in person school.

Anonymous wrote:We pay for preschool whether we go or not. I work every other week. I send her in when I’m at home because they’ve had zero cases—they’re very careful—and she learns a ton there.

Judge all you want.

Thank you. When you say they have zero cases, what kind of testing are they doing to make sure there isn't asymptomatic spreading?

Anonymous wrote:To some extent. Would never feel right dropping my kids off so I can come home and sit on the sofa knowing they’re in harms way.

This.

I think it's the responsible thing to keep your kids home for their and your family's safety if there is no real reason they need to go. But keeping them home so other people can use the spot? I don't think you can fairly determine who those people are so no, I disagree with making the decision beyond your own family.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t you all realize a nanny is way less safe? You have no clue what the nanny is doing at home and if she gets sick you’re screwed.

A well run preschool is safer and you have a backup if a teacher has to leave.

How do you figure this? At a preschool or school, not only do you not know what the teacher is doing, you have no idea what the backup teachers, admins, or other children and their families are doing. With a nanny you have one variable. With schools you can have dozens.

Well, my kid’s preschool has been open this entire time with no cases. I trust them way more than a nanny who goes home and I have no clue what she’s doing.

How do you have any idea what the teachers at the preschool are doing? Or the families of the other children there?

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Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is the civically responsible thing to do. Screw “socialization”. Leave the daycare and school spots for the families who truly need them and give those children a better shot at staying safe as well as their teachers.

+1. I do agree with this now after seeing the crowded hallways of schools back in session. My kids are able to learn at home with new computers and great WiFi. Not all families are so lucky. And I don’t need to work out of the house.

Totally agree!

+3.

+4. That’s what my friends and I are doing, for the most part. We all either have a WFH parent or nanny/grandparent to help at home, so we are freeing up the spots for children who need it, eg those with essential WOH parents. Of course, there are a few families who continue to send for “socialization” even though they don’t really need to (but they’re too lazy to take care of their kids at home). They do get some side eye, but for the most part, people are being responsible and looking out for their children’s health.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is the civically responsible thing to do. Screw “socialization”. Leave the daycare and school spots for the families who truly need them and give those children a better shot at staying safe as well as their teachers.

+1. I do agree with this now after seeing the crowded hallways of schools back in session. My kids are able to learn at home with new computers and great WiFi. Not all families are so lucky. And I don’t need to work out of the house.

Totally agree!

+3.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is the civically responsible thing to do. Screw “socialization”. Leave the daycare and school spots for the families who truly need them and give those children a better shot at staying safe as well as their teachers.

+1. I do agree with this now after seeing the crowded hallways of schools back in session. My kids are able to learn at home with new computers and great WiFi. Not all families are so lucky. And I don’t need to work out of the house.

Totally agree!

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it is the civically responsible thing to do. Screw “socialization”. Leave the daycare and school spots for the families who truly need them and give those children a better shot at staying safe as well as their teachers.

+1. I do agree with this now after seeing the crowded hallways of schools back in session. My kids are able to learn at home with new computers and great WiFi. Not all families are so lucky. And I don’t need to work out of the house.

Yes, it is the civically responsible thing to do. Screw “socialization”. Leave the daycare and school spots for the families who truly need them and give those children a better shot at staying safe as well as their teachers.

There is data now from states where real schools, not 20 to 50 person daycare centers, have been open for a couple of days... and at least one school in GA had 9 known cases (many unknown undoubtedly) the first week and had to shutdown.

Anyone on this thread want to reconsider their position?

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Anonymous wrote:Not a scientific study, but a large number of datapoints. Appears to point to essentially no cases at responsible preschools.

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/24/882316641/what-parents-can-learn-from-child-care-centers-that-stayed-open-during-lockdowns

YET


And since that now six week old study, things have changed.

In Maryland? No, not really.

I’m talking about my kid’s center, not Texas.

Our numbers are on the rise in Maryland.

Not in my part of Maryland.

See this is the problem. In a pandemic there is no such thing as my "part of the country" definitely you can never say my "part of the state"!!!! When NY was on fire the folks in Texas said - "no worries my state is fine"... until it wasn't fine!!!

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Anonymous wrote:Yes. It will lessen the spread of the virus. We don’t need preschool or daycare childcare. We aren’t sending DD.

Proof that it will lessen the spread?

Not PP but don't you see how having fewer people together would lessen the spread of the virus? Or do you think schools are magical places where the virus doesn't dare enter?

Preschools have not been the source of any outbreaks outside of places that aren’t taking it seriously— Texas. So I think they can absolutely be open safely, if done so carefully.

How is this actually known if were not doing contact tracing? What if asymptomatic kids in school are spreading it but the source of the spread isn’t identified since the kids themselves don’t get sick/tested?

We are doing contact tracing, at least in MD. Have you really not been paying attention? If an asymptomatic kid infected a teacher, the school is required to notify the parents that a teacher has it, so we would know that there is a case, even if we’re not positive it came from a kid.

What if a kid spreads it to their parent, grandparent, neighbor, etc who then spreads it to others? I understand that if a teacher or student is sick and gets tested, then the school will notify everyone. But what if kid gives it to parent who is also asymptomatic and then spreads it to a stranger at the grocery store? How would anyone know the source?

Well, we knew that the family member of a teacher had it. The teacher did not. People should be notifying those they come into contact with, including their kid’s school.

Obviously that doesn’t always happen, but it should.