Our Preschool not requiring masks for kids
Hi all,
I'm a medical provider in Berkeley whose daughters attend preschool here. Since March and when school reopened sometime in June, our school has not required the children aged 2 to 5 years, to wear masks. The staff masks and they require parents to do so on pick up. As a PCP, and one who now specializes in COVID, I’m a little confused by this protocol. With that said, I understand that developmentally it’s difficult to understand partially verbal kids when they are masked. I’m wondering if you know of any other schools who are doing the same thing and if so, they have been Covid free. I’m also wondering if anyone has any tips to convince my school to require masks until at least, we have some local herd immunity. You’d think my medical expertise would be enough, but alas, it is up to the teachers. Thanks for your time.
Parent Replies
Our home daycare required masks beginning in December for kids over 2+. The kids take them off inside to eat and sleep (which they do a lot.) They don't seem to mind them. That said...in January all the kids and at least 3 parents got Covid. We're all ok. The teacher and her family did not get Covid so hopefully at least wearing masks for them helped.
My kid's school (18 mos - 6 yrs) only recently started requiring masks, and even now only for kids 3 and up, and only while they're indoors. There have been no covid cases among students or staff, but requiring masks in school will do nothing to prevent it getting in in the first place, so who knows what would have happened if someone had been infected. We felt ok about this because they spend a ton of time outside and are very well-ventilated inside. (But I do feel better now that they're wearing masks.)
Our preschool does not have mandatory masks for the children. The kids 3.5 years and younger tend to not wear them while the older kids (3.5-5) do "wear" them. Having watched the kids from afar and during pick-ups, the kids seem to be touching their faces significantly to adjust their masks. In addition, seems by pick-up no kids are wearing them. While masks are good for kids in theory, the behavior of kids shows that masks will probably not be worn effectively with kids under 5. Also, last time I checked, WHO recommended kids under 5 not to wear masks.
Also, we've had one staff member test positive for covid, but no one else in the school tested positive. Seems that masks for adults and trying to keep air flow moving in the classroom has been successful thus far.
It is not difficult to get 2-5 years old to wear a mask. My kids preschool has been doing it successfully since they've been back this past summer. The kids adjust easily and it is definitely the best way to control this pandemic. My understanding this is a requirement for licensure and your childcare is not following the guidelines. All the info should be on the county childcare licensing page and also of course the CDC and local DPH websites.
My sister in Chicago said even with masking requirements, 5 kids came down with COVID at her kids' elementary school the first week school was in session and so she will only have her child learn virtually until Spring at least and reassess. It's a difficult situation.
My child's preschool (in Berkeley) requires masks and it is no problem for the kids. Because they are not expected to social distance, I would be uncomfortable if they didn't and wouldn't send my child. My friend's kids' preschools (in the Bay Area and beyond) also all require masks. I know some pods don't require masks but that also makes me uncomfortable. I also like the my child is now very used to a mask and we expect our child to wear whenever out of the house. I would have thought the city/state guidelines require masks above age 2. If I were you, I would look into the city/state guidelines and perhaps they are on your side and that will convince them. If not, I would talk with other parents and see if you can all agree and they contact the director and let them know.
Our preschool in Oakland doesn't require the kids to wear masks. They reopened in June and we haven't had a single person in the community come down with Covid. The teachers wear masks and get tested once a week. Parents have the option to test their kids weekly too. It is a small school and each class is kept separate, there is 3 total, each with 10 or fewer kids. I have no problem with the kids not wearing masks and I trust the families of the kids he spends his days with to adhere to a certain lifestyle to keep us all safe.
My daughter graduated from Blue Skies from Children preschool in Oakland, before the pandemic. But I spoke with some parents who were still there, and they said Blue Skies is following the same protocol as your school: masks on the teachers and parents, but not the kids. With the express reason that learning social skills is the most important thing kids get out of preschool, and that process is too hindered by not being able to see each other's faces. I heard they did not have virus outbreaks there, but you could check that with the school or other current parents.
It sounds to me like your school's teachers are making the right decision about what's best for the kids. I'm just a parent who has seen two kids grow up. Including a kid who currently has to wear a mask at his preschool. Which I think is the wrong decision, that's been detrimental to the kids' social development. So granted, I'm not a medical provider, but I can't tell from your comments that you're any better informed about weighing health risks than I am.
Our preschool also does not require the kids wear masks. They do have a lot of other protocols in place. We have been reopened since June as well with (knock on wood) no COVID incidents.
Our child is not yet in preschool but in seeking one for this year, I specifically sought one that did NOT require masking of young children.
The schools I found that did not require masking have not had any outbreaks - not have the schools that do require masking. I am not aware of outbreaks in daycares or preschools in the area.
In addition, based on the data I have reviewed and research available, it has not appeared to me children 1-10 (in particular) seem to be particular spreaders or particularly vulnerable, do you have other data available on children? I'm happy to share (exchange) materials on the topic.
In the end, I chose the route I did because I did not want my child to mask because there "might be" an issue (when we have 1 year worth of data that appears otherwise). I also chose our school because offering her a "normal" social-emotional experience (especially during these times) felt worth the "risk" as I interpret it.
My son has been in preschool 3-5 half days a week since June 2020 and kids do not wear masks. There are 10 kids and 3 teachers. Teachers do wear masks and they spend most of their time outdoors. There have been no COVID cases. Some families are essential workers and work in hospitals. We have had 3 scares with common colds going around, but everyone has tested negative.
The daycare for my four year old has not required masks for kids in their infant through pre-K program. Masks are required for staff, parents, and kids in kindergarten and up (afterschool program). The daycare has been following this protocol (along with lots of hand washing; not rotating staff; not allowing parents/outsiders to enter the classrooms) since June, and I am not aware of any COVID cases within the daycare community. Knock-on-wood!
Everyone at the in-home daycare where our child goes wears masks. They started in Sept when the smoke meant lots of time indoors with windows closed. The kids (2-3 years old) tolerate them well and only take them off to eat and nap.
According to Alameda County's DPH, "children in childcare are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings unless they cannot tolerate wearing one." That's for children 2 years old and up. Quote from this website: https://covid-19.acgov.org/schools under Childcare -> Child Care Provider FAQ (ACPHD, 9/24/2020)
I hear your concern! We have our 4 yr old in a parent coop pod with 3 others. Because the earlier coronavirus was less likely to be transmitted to and from kids we decided on no masks or distancing for the kids. Word is that the new variant might be equally contagious for kids — we are considering introducing masks for the kids.
Our preschool/daycare had the same policy (masks only required for adults). They've been open since June, but only recently changed that policy (November) for all 2yo and up. I would recommend reaching not only with the teachers/staff, but also other parents! The change at our school was somewhat spearheaded by another set of parents (who are also in healthcare) who first brought it up to the other parents, and received a lot of support. The realization that masking would help contain the spread of other viruses (cold/flu) made it a no-brainer!--school policy is families must keep kids home if they have any symptoms such as coughing, runny noses, etc. I don't think the teachers want to fight with kids about masking, and so making it clear that kids are willing and that parents are supportive is helpful, I imagine.
2) We had an entire family come down with COVID in December, including the 1yo in my daughter's toddler classroom. Obviously, 1yos are not masking thus this boy was sharing a classroom, unmasked, with Covid for 3 days. No one else got sick.
I hope this helps. Good luck!
Our preschool has strict cohorting and mandatory masking for teachers and kids except when they are eating or drinking outside. Parents must be masked and do not go past the vestibule at drop off or pickup. I am also a healthcare worker and this was important to me. I have been incredibly impressed with the director, the teachers, and how easily the kids have complied (my son joined this preschool in August but I believe they reopened with this policy in June). Feel free to reach out to me directly if you want to discuss further. We go to the El Cerrito location of Mi Mundo and cannot speak more highly of the staff and school.