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School start again in just a few weeks. And, if you’re like the moms I know, you’re likely uncertain about what to do with your kids. You were probably thrown into distance learning in March, like most of us. Or you may have just made a “wash” of the last few months of the school year. Either way, you survived. But are you prepared to do it all over again? Or are you ready to send your kids back to school? There’s a lot to consider with COVID-19 and school re-opening.

As a Pediatrician, it’s hard to think about school starting up again in the middle of a pandemic. But, it’s a conversation I’m having with my patients and their families all day.

And, to be honest, I think I’ve said “I don’t know” more times in the past few weeks than I’ve said it my entire life!

Because I’m not just a Pediatrician.

I’m also a mom.

And I honestly have mixed feelings about the whole thing. Thinking about COVID-19 and school re-opening, I’m trying to balance the risk of the disease with the benefits of my kids being back in the classroom. And I know you’re likely trying to do the same.

The risks

As I write this, the CDC has reported over 3 million US cases of COVID-19, and over 130,000 deaths. Where I sit here in Florida, we’ve been averaging 9-10,000 new cases per day for the past 2 weeks. Plus our hospitals are getting a major hit.

I fully understand the risks of COVID-19. Flu-like symptoms (feeling lousy for more than a few days). Pneumonia. Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-c). An ICU stay. Death.

But, looking at the bright side, kids don’t seem to catch COVID-19 at rates anywhere near adults. And when they do get it, they seem to do a whole lot better. But, what if your child has asthma, or has wheezed before like my daughter? What if he has any other medical problem – like my son who had open-heart surgery as a baby? There’s still too much uncertainty to assume your child (or mine) will have an easy course with this disease.

And even if your child gets COVID-19 and does well, what about the risk to the rest of the community? Schools can be a breeding ground for infection, and that’s the main reason schools were closed to begin with. We’ve seen this for SO many illnesses (especially flu!). And the scary part is that kids have been known to be asymptomatic with COVID-19. So, they may be spreading it without even knowing it. This poses a risk to teachers, administrators, janitors, cafeteria workers, and school bus drivers. And to us as parents, uncles, aunts, or grandparents.

Plus, flu season will be starting again soon. Which means an even bigger hit to our ICU’s.

The risks are still very, very big.

The benefits

On the other hand, there’s the clear benefits of kids being back in school. Being taught face-to-face by someone who’s been trained to do it. Having some sort of structure to the day. Being around friends. Socializing. The socialization that kids of any age get from just being there (learning to take turns, to be nice, respect others, etc.). ESE resources and services that can only be provided when the schools are open. Free breakfast and lunch for a lot of kids. Free childcare. Plus the fact that school may be a stable place – with air conditioning, regular meals, and attention that a lot of kids won’t find at home.

And, if you’re a working parent – like me – you likely can’t be there for your kids during the “school day”. You may have to play catch up on a full day’s worth of school work when you get home. Or have to sacrifice your job and income so you can be there if your kids really need you. Plus, teaching and keeping your kids on task at home can be tough, and really strain your relationship.

I could go on and on.

The reality is that everyone’s situation is different. Some school districts are offering very limited choices. But, if you’re able to choose, you have to weigh your options and make the decision that works best for you. If you have multiple kids, you may even make different decisions based on the needs of each child.

Our situation

Since I’m an “essential worker”, I’ve been working outside the house throughout the pandemic. We’re lucky enough that my husband’s been working from home since this started. Even though it’s tough for him to work and make sure our kids stay on task, we at least have “childcare”. I know a lot of families aren’t so lucky.

Our school district recently sent out surveys asking us what we want our kids to do when school starts again in a few weeks. We had the option of 100% virtual schooling, 50% virtual/50% in-person schooling, or 100% in-person. We weren’t given solid details on what the 50/50 option would look like. (And I honestly don’t think our district knows for sure yet).

I chose the 50/50 option, with hopes that the classes would be smaller, and social distancing would at least be “possible”.

But, honestly, I’m still considering virtual schooling 100% of the time if our numbers in Florida keep rising the way they are. I’m still waiting for the exact plans from our school district. I really want to know the measures they’ll be taking to keep our kids safe in school.

My kids will be in 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th grades. Plus my 2 year-old who’ll eventually go back to daycare. I’d be most comfortable if their schools enforced mask-wearing, had regular hand-washing/sanitizing breaks, smaller class sizes, desks 6-feet apart, lunch in the classroom (not cafeteria), and spacing during recess/P.E.

But, seriously, how much will all of this affect their school day and get in the way of their learning? I’m not so sure they’ll social distance the way they should – especially my high-schooler, who can’t resist the urge to hug her friends. I’m not sure they’ll wear a mask all day, not touch their faces, wash their hands when they should, sanitize, etc.

I’ve tried to train my kids really well on all this, but who knows what they’ll do when I’m not there? (My 2 youngest kids are also finger-suckers. I can actually picture them taking their mask off just so they can suck their fingers!)

To add to all that, my dad usually picks my kids up from school, so what about his risk?

To consider for your own family

The American Academy of Pediatrics has recently recommended that kids return to school this fall, with guidelines and suggestions laid out here (and more detail here).

There’s a lot to think about. I encourage you to weigh the potential risks and benefits to your kids and other family members. It may be safe for your kids to return to the classroom if you aren’t in a hot spot (like us here in Florida).

If your child is healthy and there’s no one in your home who would be in the “high-risk” category when it comes to COVID-19, then school may be safe.

If your child simply did not do well at all with virtual schooling, consider hiring someone to come into your home. But, if that’s not possible, school may be a reasonable option.

If you have to work outside the home and have young kids, then you may have no other choice besides daycare and school for your kids.

If your child is missing out on critical services that can’t be provided virtually, he may get more benefit from being at school than at home. I personally don’t think a few months at home will be terribly detrimental to most kids. You may be concerned about hindering your child’s development by keeping him home – especially if your child is in preschool. But, kids learn so much through regular, everyday activities and play. All it really takes is talking to and interacting with your kids throughout the day. Now’s a great time to truly invest and be involved in educating your kids.

There are a kids who have actually done a whole lot better with virtual schooling vs being in the classroom. Kids with ADHD, especially. They’re able to focus on their schoolwork with minimal distractions (unless they’ve got younger siblings running around!). Many kids are able to get through their schoolwork a lot quicker, which makes the “school day” shorter and (hopefully) less stressful.

It’s a personal choice

Personally, my kids’ health and well-being takes priority over anything else. If they aren’t healthy, they can’t learn. And for the past few months, they’ve been the healthiest I’ve seen in a while. If this COVID-19 spike continues here in Florida, we’ll keep doing what we did from March-June, once school starts again in the fall. We’ll play it by ear once things (hopefully) start calming down again.

Please, please, please make a thoughtful, educated decision when it comes to your COVID-19 and school re-opening. But, don’t feel guilty about your decision, either way you choose. And don’t feel bad if you change your mind multiple times (I sure have). I hope pouring out my thought-process has helped you in some way. I pray for health and safety for you and your family!

Are you a busy mom, worried about how you’ll handle distance learning amidst COVID-19 and school re-opening? Check out this post for a few tips. I also highly recommend grabbing my printable Daily Schedule Template and Sample Schedule. It’s a helpful visual for your child and helps to keep their days organized. Just drop your e-mail below to have it delivered RIGHT to your inbox.

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What are your thoughts on COVID-19 and school re-opening? I’d love to hear them! Just drop them in the comments below!

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