| Yesterday, the neighborhood mom text thread got busy when one pal wrote, "Are you doing anything different with your kids' masks during school? Double? KN95?" Some said they'd double-mask their kids too young to be vaccinated and let the older ones go to school with a regular mask. Reusable? Not reusable? Others discussed the benefits of a KN95 and what that actually means. What is the difference between KN95 and N95? Yes, we're heading back to school with our kids in masks. In addition to the controversy regarding kids in masks right now, parents are left wondering what's best for them to wear, particularly for those little ones not yet ready for vaccinations and more vulnerable to the delta variant that is flying through this country like, well, wildfire. I hope today's piece is helpful to my friends and all of you. Elliot Haspel spoke with pediatricians and infectious-disease specialists about the best type of masks for kids, and how to deal with them. In our house here, we've got one vaxxed kiddo and one who isn't old enough yet. They mask up without any qualms, and I feel lucky to live in a city where people don't seem to be fighting the necessity of masks to protect themselves and others. That's very much not the case for parents like Darlena Cunha, who lives in Florida. Her 12-year-old daughters get "dress coded" for very questionable reasons, and yet the governor is fighting against a mask mandate in schools. What a time we're living in. Have a parenting dilemma you'd like some help with? Ask parent coach and author Meghan Leahy right here. She'll be online to answer those questions next Wednesday. By Elizabeth Dwoskin, Will Oremus and Gerrit De Vynck ● Read more » | | | | Washington Post health and science reporters will answer your questions Friday at 3:30pm. By Joel Achenbach and Carolyn Y. Johnson ● Read more » | | | |
Parenting in a Pandemic These are challenging times for any parent to navigate. Let On Parenting help. Below you'll find a selection of expert advice and personal stories for all types of parents. To keep up with The Post's best advice for living through a lockdown, including recipes to make, shows to watch, the best socializing apps, resources for parents, guidance for managing anxiety and tips for canceled trips, bookmark Your Life at Home. And the latest on school reopenings can be found on The Post's Education page. For vaccinated parents with unvaccinated kids | Vaccinated adults may have more freedom. But for kids, 'the rules haven't changed.' For parents dealing with virtual school | Strategies to improve distance learning | Tips for creating a good learning environment at home | How parents can avoid anxiety around distance learning For parents dealing with in-person school | How to help children adjust to masks, according to experts and parents | As kids move from quarantine to school, separation anxiety may follow. Here's how to help. For parents working from home | 6 strategies for parents struggling with work-from-home interruptions For parents looking ahead to post-pandemic life | The pandemic changed everything about family life. These are the parts parents want to keep. |