Q: Will it be safe to go back to school in the fall? HELP!
A: I feel you! Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to this question.
It may help to reframe the question to not only think about the safety risks of COVID-19 if kids return to school, but also the broader risks if kids do NOT return to school. In-person camps/school provide children educational, as well as social, psychological, and community benefits. Of course, caregivers also need a break from the relentless parenting demands on top of their myriad other work and household responsibilities.
As shown in this NY Times article, in late May 133 epidemiologists were asked, “When would you send your children to school, camp or daycare?” Their answers were decidedly not uniform: only 10% said they would start right now, 20% later in the summer, and 40% would start in the fall. While the wide range of responses from experts may be frustrating, it makes sense because there’s still so much we don’t know, and circumstances are going to vary across regions and households. Also, to some extent, we are still awaiting more information on the short- and longer-term consequences of COVID-19 for children.
Here are a few key questions to ask yourself about whether you would feel comfortable sending your child to camp or school:
1.) LOCAL COVID-19 PATTERNS: What are the local COVID-19 patterns in your community and state? Are the new COVID-19 cases increasing or decreasing? Is there sufficient testing (with a low positivity rate)? What does the regional hospital capacity look like?
2.) CAMP- OR SCHOOL-BASED RISK MITIGATION STRATEGIES: Presumably, most camps or schools will offer basic mitigation strategies (e.g., smaller class or group sizes, social distancing, masks, no large gatherings). Are these strategies feasible? Will they work for your child? Are there other things that the camp/school can do? Since state, local, and school-district policies will vary in how they implement risk reduction, you may want to find out if your camp or school district is doing as much as it can/should.
3.) HOUSEHOLD OR FAMILY-RISK FACTORS: Are there extenuating circumstances that may put your household at higher risk if your child gets infected with COVID-19? For example, if your child lives in the same household as grandparents or other at-risk individuals, it may be wiser to keep your kids away from camps or in-person school for now.
4.) INDIVIDUAL CHILD CONSIDERATIONS: Are you concerned about your child’s mental health or social development? Are your child’s academic needs not being met? Is your child spending too much time on screens? Does your child have special needs or health concerns?
I wish it were possible to offer a straightforward reliable answer to your question. I hope these ways of thinking about this complex and still unfolding situation offers some useful assistance.
