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Like many children his age, three-year-old Eshan Evans is energetic and boisterous. But as soon as he has to put on a face mask at school, something changes. "You can see he's a different boy, much tamer and quieter," says his mother Herne.

In Singapore, where Eshan and his family live, children aged six and above are legally required to wear masks. But many kindergartens and pre-schools also strongly encourage the practice for younger children. It means that for roughly eight hours every weekday, except while eating, drinking, or napping, Eshan wears a disposable three-ply mask.

The moment he's let out, however, he rips off his mask, shoving it into his pocket or thrusting into his grandmother's hands. Once, on a particularly bad day in July, he threw his mask on the ground and ran out the school gates.

"He hates it," says his mother, who doesn't make her son wear a mask outside of school. "I have nothing against masks... but we don't want to force it on him and know he's uncomfortable."

The decision of whether to mask young children is one that many parents and regulators around the world are facing as they try to prevent new waves of Covid-19, while also allowing children to develop, socialise and thrive emotionally.

From a regulatory standpoint, as of early October, countries fall largely into three camps. Singapore and European countries such as France and Italy recommend masking up from the age of six. This is in line the World Health Organization's guidelines, which recommend that children over six wear masks in certain circumstances, for example when there is widespread transmission in their area. Some only apply the rule to specific indoor settings, such as school.

Other regulatory bodies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, recommend mask-wearing for those aged two and older. And then there are those countries that have dropped requirements for in-classroom face coverings - for instance, in the UK, neither children nor their teachers are advised to wear masks to school.

In Singapore, children over six are legally required to wear masks - and many younger children wear them, too (Credit: Getty Images)

The only globally accepted consensus is that babies and children under two should not wear masks, due to the risk of suffocation.

"The age limit for the use of masks by children is not yet a scientific definition," says Adamos Hadjipanayis, president of the European Academy of Paediatrics.

There have been relatively few studies investigating mask-wearing in children, due to ethical and logistical challenges. Those few studies, which focused on the physical impact of masks on breathing, did not find any harmful effects. But the debate around the wider pros and cons has been heated.

Proponents of mask-wearing argue that masks protect the wearer and those around them from Covid-19, and that the risk factors of the disease for young children should not be overlooked. Most countries do not vaccinate children under 12, or only in exceptional cases, which leaves them comparatively exposed. Serious cases of Covid-19 in young children are still relatively rare - according to a large UK study published this July, roughly one in 50,000 children with Covid end up in intensive care, and two in a million die. But the rapidly spreading Delta variant, which is at least twice as contagious compared with previous strains, is putting pressure on countries to contain and prevent outbreaks, including among children.

"Delta makes the situation far worse," says Deepti Gurdasani, a clinical epidemiologist at Queen Mary University of London. "Post-Delta, we're seeing a lot of outbreaks in schools all over the world."

The good news is that mask-wearing has been linked to lower rates of Covid-19 in schools. For example, in the US state of North Carolina, where masking is compulsory for students above six, schools reported extremely low transmission rates - although more than 7,000 children and staff attended school while carrying the virus between March and June 2021, only 363 Covid-19 cases were found to have been caused as a result.

In another survey involving 169 elementary schools in Georgia, researchers found that when teachers and staff were required to wear masks, reported Covid-19 cases were 37% lower compared to schools without a mask mandate.

"Masks provide an additional layer of protection against Covid-19 and have been shown to decrease the risk of getting the disease," says Annabelle de St. Maurice, an assistant professor of paediatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Of course, masking may not solely be responsible for reducing transmission. Other protective factors such as "personal hand hygiene, safe distancing, and whether an area is well-ventilated may play a part," says Mark Ng, the clinical lead of the infection prevention and infectious diseases workgroup at Singhealth Polyclinics in Singapore.

Family Tree

This article is part of Family Tree, a new series of features from the BBC that examine the issues and opportunities that parents, children and families face all over the world. It examines the role that families have in today's society and how they will be part of the world tomorrow.

You might also be interested in some other stories about how the pandemic is affecting children:

But masks are an efficient and effective preventive measure, which is probably why many parents of young children in Singapore still stuck to it even after the island state raised the legal mask-wearing age to six last September. The initial ruling, imposed half a year earlier, required children over two to be masked. ( Read more about how face masks reduce transmission.)

For Mimi Zainal, mother to two children aged three and five years old, the change in ruling made no difference. "I prefer the kids to wear masks... it gives me a peace of mind to know they are more protected," she says.

The children struggled with wearing masks at first, Zainal admits, but she and her husband "hyped it up" into a fun activity that the family would do together before heading out. She bought a variety of patterns - astronauts, unicorns, and other colourful prints - for the children to choose from. Within a matter of weeks, the kids got used to their masks, she says.

Some argue that even the jolliest pattern can't change one fundamental problem with masks: they hide half the face, and may make it harder to decode people's moods and feelings.

Children begin to recognise basic emotions - happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and so on - from as early as 10 months of age, with development peaking around five or six years, says Kang Lee, a developmental psychologist at the University of Toronto.

Masks have been shown to help prevent Covid outbreaks, including among children (Credit: Getty Images)

Being able to see faces in their entirety is a key part of such development and masking can hinder that process, he says: "We learn emotions mostly through the face." ( Read more about how the pandemic might be changing the world's children.)

But other experts are skeptical of how much of an impediment masks really are. "Faces aren't necessarily the only or the most important cue to someone else's emotions," says Ashley Ruba, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Child Emotion Lab. There are other vital signals too, she says, "things like tone of voice, body posture, and overall social situation".

A 2012 study found that children under the age of nine could still correctly pinpoint the emotions of the faces they were viewing, even if they couldn't see their mouths. And in an experiment conducted last year, Ruba and her colleague discovered that while masks slightly impaired children's ability to recognise sadness, anger, and fear, the overall effect was the same with sunglasses.

"This is another piece of evidence to suggest that masks may not have such a negative impact on children's emotional development," she says. After all, people usually don't worry about wearing sunglasses around kids.

Eva Chen, a developmental psychologist at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, points out that in any case, people are not wearing masks or sunglasses all the time: "So children are not 100% deprived of facial information." And in places like China, South Korea, and Japan, where masking was commonplace even before the pandemic struck, children have developed normally, she adds.

One potentially greater area of concern may be the impact of masks on children's language development. Here, experts too are somewhat divided in their views, but they agree on one thing: there's a lot parents can do to bridge any budding problems.

"Children learn through observation," says Lynette Teo, who teaches childhood language and literacy development at Singapore's Ngee Ann Polytechnic. "They look at the movement of the mouth, and see the lips and tongue move. If you just think about the 'th' sound, the placement of the tongue is so important."

School children are required to wear masks during lessons in Israel and a number of other countries around the world (Credit: Reuters)

But parents shouldn't worry too much, says Lee. "Kids are very adaptable to the environment. If one channel is blocked, they will go to another channel." To help kids understand, he suggests teachers and parents enhance their speech, posture, body movement and gestures when speaking with them.

The situation for children with special needs is different, however, says Stephen Camarata, a professor of hearing and speech sciences at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, who works extensively with such kids. "Children with disabilities, especially hearing loss, use facial features to fill in the information they're not hearing," he says. "They really need that visual information to understand what you're saying. With masks on, they're just not getting access to those cues."

He also expects masks to generally make it harder for young children to learn new words: "In the short term, in terms of comprehending new words and vocabulary, [masks are] going to have an attenuating effect."

Zainal, the Singaporean mother of two, noticed such a potential lag in her own son, but was able to solve through additional support. Worried that the five-year-old "was a bit slow in learning his phonics," she sent him for extra classes at a tuition centre earlier this year. "I found that even though teachers had masks on, he was still able to pick up the sounds and learn."

Tammy Lim, a consultant with the Child Development Unit at Singapore's National University Hospital, agrees. She highlights how a local study found that two-year-olds were still able to learn and recognise words even when spoken from behind a mask. In her view, the impact of masks on children is negligible compared to the other ways in which Covid-19 has disrupted their lives. She's more worried about how increased screen time, for example, has displaced exercise, playtime, and other activities. Already, her unit has seen an increase in young patients with developmental delays and behavioural issues, which she partly ascribes to the lack of opportunities for free play and socialising.

By comparison, the lasting effects of masking, if any, may be trivial. "In the long run, I don't see any negative psychological effects on children," says Lee.

Chen takes a similar view. "Kids acclimatise surprisingly easily," she says. If parents are worried, she suggests the best solution is to spend as much time as possible with their kids. "There's plenty of research to show that it's really important to have a child feel securely attached to their parents - to have their parents listen to them and reflect their emotions back to them, and to communicate extensively with one another."

Creating those warm family moments may be the best way to weather the upheaval of pandemic-induced rules and disruptions.

For Zainal, that involved coming up with creative ways for her kids to have fun at home, such as picnicking on the balcony, having an indoor scavenger hunt, and doing weekly craft activities. Masks are annoying, she says, but there's still fun to be had indoors. And when they do venture out, masks provide "a sense of assurance to know that the kids are at least protected in a way, and can continue going to school and interacting with their friends".

--
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Should young children be made to wear face masks?

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Like many children his age, three-year-old Eshan Evans is energetic and boisterous. But as soon as he has to put on a face mask at school, something changes. "You can see he's a different boy, much tamer and quieter," says his mother Herne.

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By: Kimberly M. Dickinson, MD, MPH & Theresa W. Guilbert, MD, MS, FAAP

Face masks are still an important tool for many families to help prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This includes new and more contagious variants.

Masks help protect unvaccinated and vaccinated people, and are important for individuals to use in areas where the COVID-19 Community Level is high. Masks can be safely worn by all children older than 2 years. Individuals may choose to continue wearing face masks when they go out so they can protect themselves or their family members.

Some parents may have concerns about face masks, and we're here to help. Here are some common questions, along with the facts about kids and masks that will put your mind at ease:

Do masks make it harder for my child to breathe?

There have been concerns that face masks can reduce oxygen intake, and can lead to low blood oxygen levels, known as hypoxemia. However, masks are made from breathable materials that will not block the oxygen your child needs. Masks have not been shown to affect a child's ability to focus or learn in school. The vast majority of children age 2 or older can safely wear face masks for extended periods of time, such as during preschool or at child care. This includes most children with special health care needs.

Can masks interfere with a child's lung development?

No, wearing a face mask will not affect your child 's lungs from developing normally. This is because oxygen flows through and around the mask, while blocking the spray of spit and respiratory droplets that may contain the virus. Keeping your child's lungs healthy is important, which includes preventing infections like COVID-19.

Do masks trap the carbon dioxide that we normally breathe out?

No. There have been false reports that face masks can lead to carbon dioxide poisoning (known as hypercapnia) from re-breathing the air we normally breathe out. But this is not true. Carbon dioxide molecules are very tiny, even smaller than respiratory droplets. They cannot be trapped by breathable materials like disposable masks. In fact, surgeons wear tight fitting masks all day as part of their jobs, without any harm.

Children under 2 years of age should not wear masks since they may not be able to remove them without help. Children with severe breathing problems or cognitive impairments may also have a hard time tolerating a face mask and extra precautions may be needed.

Can masks lead to a weaker immune system by putting the body under stress?

No. Wearing a face mask does not weaken your immune system or increase your chances of getting sick if exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Wearing a mask, even if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19, helps prevent the virus from spreading.

How do masks prevent the spread of COVID-19?

When worn correctly, face masks create a barrier that reduces the spray of a person's spit and respiratory droplets. These droplets play a key role in the spread of COVID-19 because they can carry SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Masks also can protect you from others who may have coronavirus but are not showing symptoms and who could come within 6 feet of you, which is how far respiratory droplets can travel when people sneeze or cough or raise their voices.

Another benefit of wearing masks is that they may keep people from touching their mouths and faces, which is another way COVID, colds, flu and RSV and other respiratory diseases are spread.

Remember

Masks are an important strategy to prevent COVID from spreading, especially as new contagious variants circulate. Masks are safe and effective for anyone age 2 years or older. Don't hesitate to talk with your child's pediatrician if you have any questions about your child wearing face masks.

More information

About Dr. Dickinson

Kimberly M. Dickinson, MD, MPH, FAAP, a pediatric pulmonary fellow at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., is a past member of the AAP Section on Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine Trainee Subcommittee.

About Dr. Guilbert

Theresa W. Guilbert, MD, MS, FAAP, is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati and director of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Asthma Center in the Pulmonary Division. She is a member of the AAP Section on Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine Executive Committee.

American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine (Copyright © 2020)

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kids and masks~ safety of masks~ are masks safe~ masks and covid19~ coronavirus masks for kids

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Mask Mythbusters: Common Questions about Kids & Face Masks

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Cut through all the misinformation with these 5 common questions about kids and masks, along with evidence-based information that will put your mind at ease.​

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Opinion: Requiring kids to wear masks all day at school does more harm than good

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While we all want to “do something” to reduce suffering, we ought to act prudently and guard against unintended consequences.

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In many places, people are wearing masks when they're in public because of coronavirus (COVID-19). It's an important way to help slow the spread of the virus.

At first, it was mostly doctors, nurses, and others in health care settings who wore masks. But now, as other people wear them, more and more kids are seeing something they're not used to seeing. For them, it can be strange or a little scary, especially if they need to put on masks too.

Most kids can feel comfortable seeing people in masks, as long as adults:

Use simple words to explain why people are wearing masks.

Give kids time to look, watch, and get used to what's new.

Answer kids' questions.

Give support.

Some toddlers and young children may feel uneasy about masks. They may need extra support and comfort from parents. Parents also can help kids understand why they might need to wear a mask, and make them more comfortable and even fun to wear.

How Do Kids React to Masks?

How kids react to seeing masks partly depends on their age. Older kids might not react much at all. To them, masks might seem like no big deal. Most are able to adjust pretty quickly.

Some kids may even be eager to wear a mask. They might embrace their new look as a medical superhero.

But for babies, toddlers, and young kids, seeing people in masks might take some getting used to. At first, they may feel cautious. They may need a few minutes to look and watch. That can help them get used to what's new. They may need a parent to gently say, "It's OK." That can help them relax.

Some babies, toddlers, and young kids may feel upset or afraid. They might cry, hide their face, or cling to a parent. Soothing words, comfort, and the safety of a parent's lap can help calm them.

Why Do Some Young Kids Feel Scared of Masks?

Masks hide part of a person's face. Young children rely on faces. From the time they are babies, young children look at faces for the signals they need to feel safe.

When faces are partly hidden by masks, kids can't see the friendly smile or familiar look that usually puts them at ease. When kids can't see the person's whole face, it's harder to feel safe. It's natural to feel scared.

But slowly and gently, parents can help kids feel more comfortable. Even very young kids can learn that something that seemed too scary at first is not so scary after all.

How Can Parents Help Kids Wear a Mask?

Cloth face coverings (or a face mask, if you have one) on adults and kids over 2 years old can help slow the spread of the virus. Here are some ways to help kids wear masks when you go out:

Help kids get used to masks. As much as you can, give kids time to practice wearing their masks before they might need to wear one outside of your home. Teach them how to put them on and take them off.

Encourage kids to decorate their mask. This might help them feel a sense of ownership and control over the situation. A personal touch can help make it more of a normal part of their routine, and make it more likely they'll want to wear their mask. Depending on the type of mask, kids can draw on it with markers or put stickers on it.

Make them together. If you make face coverings at home, let older kids help you. There are no-sew masks that are easy to make, often with materials you probably already have (T-shirts, bandannas, etc.). If you sew masks, maybe kids can select the fabric or patterns for the masks they'll wear.

Help make it fun. With younger kids, introduce a sense of play. Kids can pretend to be a doctor or nurse while wearing their masks. They might want to use a doctor kit and "take care" of a stuffed animal or doll.

Have a few masks handy while kids play. This lets them use their imagination about how to use them during playtime. It also helps make masks a more normal part their everyday world. You can ask your child to put a mask on a stuffed animal, and then ask follow-up questions about why the stuffed animal is wearing the mask. Depending on your child's response, you can clear up any confusion and offer reassurance.

How Can I Help My Child During Medical Visits?

For older kids:

Tell kids what to expect and why. Mention masking before the visit, if you can. For kids old enough to understand, you might say, "I think we'll see doctors and nurses wearing their masks today. It's a new thing they're doing to stopgerms." Explain it in a way that seems matter of fact and calm.

If you will wear masks, tell your child, "We might get to wear masks too. We want to stop germs too, right?" Knowing what to expect helps kids of all ages feel prepared and more at ease.

Explain the upside. Be honest, but focus on the good that masks can do, rather than the bad things a virus can do. For example, you might say, "Because of the coronavirus that's going around, everyone is doing extra things to stop its germs from spreading. Wearing masks is one of the ways we can stop the virus."

Let kids show what they know. Invite school-age kids to tell you the other things you already do as a family to stop germs. For example, prompt kids to say or show how theywash their hands. Give them a word of praise to help them feel proud and capable.

When kids know there arethings they can do, they feel confident and more at ease.

For younger kids who feel upset by masks:

Accept how they react. Know that it's normal for young kids to react with caution to things they don't expect, understand, or feel familiar with. Let them take their time to warm up to what's new.

Comfort them. Kids will look to you to soothe and support them. Let them sit on your lap. Tell them, "You're OK, I'm here." When you help them feel safe, they can start to adjust to what's different or new. They can start to feel less cautious and more curious.

Be playful and show love. If the moment seems right, find a way to be playful with your child. While you're still at the medical visit, is there a way to help your child laugh, smile, or giggle? Laughing is relaxing. And a few sweet moments help balance out the stressful ones.

After the visit:

If your child seemed upset, worried, or stressed during the visit, doing these things can help:

Talk about it. After the visit, it can help to talk with your child. You might say, "Everybody looked different today wearing those masks, didn't they?" Then listen. Let your child tell you what it was like for them. Find ways to praise your child. "It wasn't easy. You did great. I'm proud of you." Call out a bright spot. "I'm glad we got to wave to the nurse who took care of you last time. I think it made him feel happy too."

Invite your child to draw or play about it. Together, you could draw pictures of people wearing masks and not wearing masks. Or make a play mask and let a doll or stuffed animal try it on.

Play and drawing can help kids work out what they saw and felt. They are a way to rehash and rehearse. And that helps kids feel a little more prepared for next time.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19): Helping Kids Get Used to Masks

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In many places, people are wearing masks when they're in public because of coronavirus (COVID-19). It's an important way to help slow the spread of the virus. At first, it was mostly doctors, nurses, and others in health care settings who wore masks.

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But even with new federal guidance, the recommendations acknowledge that state and local governments have the final say when it comes to mask mandates, and those mandates differ across the country. In some U.S. states and territories, face coverings are still mandated by law as a preventive measure during the coronavirus pandemic. Along with public health experts, many governors - including some who have changed their earlier stances on masks as COVID-19 cases have surged in their states - strongly encourage wearing face masks, regardless of state mandate.

For those areas with mask decrees, the details differ. Some states simply require a face covering in all indoor spaces, while others provide detailed instructions for where masks must be worn. In all states with mandates, children under the age of 2 years old should not wear masks, according to the CDC and further direction by states, but other age restrictions vary.

These are the U.S. states and territories with mask mandates for most people, regardless of vaccination status:

These are the U.S. states and territories with mask mandates for the unvaccinated:

These are the U.S. states and territories without mask mandates:

Photos You Should See - December 2021

Mayor Muriel Bowser initiated a mask mandate on July 22, 2020, stipulating that all individuals must wear a mask at businesses, in common areas of apartments, and when maintaining a distance of 6 feet is not possible outdoors. The order follows a May 2020 mandate requiring face coverings in essential business and during essential travel when the District was under a stay-at-home order. On April 30, 2021, Bowser signed an executive order that allows people who are vaccinated to gather outdoors in small groups without masks, or with unvaccinated people who are wearing masks. On May 17, fully vaccinated individuals were ordered to wear masks only in places where it was required, including health care settings, schools, at businesses where masks are mandatory and on public transportation. After the CDC reversed its mask guidance for vaccinated individuals, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the mask mandate would return for everyone while indoors, regardless of vaccination status, effective July 31. And on Nov. 22, the mandate was lifted, except in some locations such as schools, government buildings and public transportation, along with private businesses that may set a mask requirement themselves.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker put a mask mandate into place effective May 1, 2020, requiring that individuals in the state wear a face covering in public indoor spaces, and when expecting to come into contact with non-household members within 6 feet. Children 2 years and under are exempt from the mandate, as are individuals with certain medical conditions. On May 17, 2021, Pritzker aligned the state's mask mandate with CDC guidelines, allowing those who are vaccinated to go without masks in most situations. On July 27, the state adopted the CDC's latest guidance, recommending that people once again wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, in areas where COVID-19 is surging. On Aug. 4, Pritzker introduced a mask mandate for all students in schools, regardless of vaccination status. Effective Aug. 30, masks are once again required in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status.

Gov. Andy Beshear initiated a face-covering mandate beginning July 10, 2020, making face coverings required while using public transportation, in all businesses and when a distance of 6 feet is difficult to maintain in all public indoor and outdoor spaces. Children 5 years and younger were exempt from the mandate, along with individuals actively exercising at a gym while maintaining a 6-foot distance from others, and those with disabilities that prevented them from safely wearing a face covering. Beshear announced that starting April 27, groups of fewer than 1,000 individuals could gather outdoors without masks, although those who are not vaccinated should continue wearing masks if a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained from others. And on May 6, the governor announced that people who are vaccinated may gather in small groups indoors without masks. Following the CDC's indoor mask recommendations for vaccinated individuals, Beshear announced that the state would immediately follow the new guidance, allowing those who are vaccinated to forgo mask requirements indoors. On June 11, the state's mask mandate was lifted.

Gov. Charlie Baker put a face-covering mandate in place effective May 6, 2020, ordering that individuals in the state wear a face covering when in a public location and when unable to maintain a distance of 6 feet from a non-household member. It was later updated to stipulate that masks must be worn at all times in public spaces. Baker announced that the state's mask mandate would be relaxed for some outdoor settings, effective April 30, 2021, except for when it is not possible to socially distance, following the CDC's recommendations. On May 29, the state's mask mandate ended. Those who are not vaccinated are advised to continue wearing face coverings. On Aug. 25, a universal mask mandate took effect for students and staff in schools, regardless of vaccination status.

On April 17, 2020, a face-covering mandate was put in place in the state in all public spaces when unable to maintain physical-distancing measures. Former-Gov. Andrew Cuomo later announced new mask-mandate guidelines, in accordance with the CDC's recommendations, allowing vaccinated individuals to forgo wearing masks in some outdoor settings, and effective May 19, 2021, those who were vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask in most settings, including indoors. But starting Dec. 13, masks are required for everyone in indoor spaces where proof of full vaccination is not required.

Since July 1, 2020, individuals throughout the state have been required to wear face coverings in public indoor spaces, and that was later expanded to outdoor spaces. Effective April 29, 2021, individuals who are fully vaccinated were no longer have to wear masks outdoors, except for in crowded areas or at large gatherings. On May 13, Gov. Kate Brown announced that the state would follow the CDC's mask guidelines for those who are vaccinated, allowing vaccinated individuals to forgo wearing a mask in most indoor spaces. On June 30, the state's mask mandate was lifted. Brown announced that masks will once again be required in indoor public spaces starting Aug. 13, regardless of vaccination status. As of Aug. 27, masks are also required in outdoor settings where physical distancing is not possible, regardless of vaccination status. On Nov. 23, the outdoor mandate lifted.

The state encourages individuals to wear masks, but Gov. Kristi Noem has not put a statewide mandate in place.

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These States Have COVID-19 Mask Mandates

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But even with new federal guidance, the recommendations acknowledge that state and local governments have the final say when it comes to mask mandates, and those mandates differ across the country. In some U.S. states and territories, face coverings are still mandated by law as a preventive measure during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Zoë Trisha Prinsloo sees all sorts of plastic trash during her beach cleanups in Cape Town, South Africa. The teenager has collected plastic bottles, food containers, straws, and more. Lately, Prinsloo has noticed an increase in a certain kind of…

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With the school year upon us, parents must make the difficult choice between online and in-person learning as in-person learning is available or becomes available in school districts throughout the region. Never did we think we would have to navigate these waters, but here we are. If you're feeling stressed out, uneasy, unsure and teetering back and forth between options, you are not alone. This choice is a big one, especially if your district makes your decision permanent for the entirety of the school year. To ease your mind and make a rational decision that works for your family, weighing the pros and cons of each learning style is essential to make an informed choice. The most important thing to know, as the deadline approaches, is how each option works for your specific family. Make your decision based solely on what is best for your household.

The Pros and Cons of Online Learning

Pro: Social distancing and a lessened chance of COVID-19 exposure . Students do not have to wear a mask at home or follow strict safety procedures at a school level to keep the children there safe.

Con: Less social interaction with peers.

Pro: Increased flexibility in their school schedule. Students can work at their pace and take on tasks based on a timeline that feels comfortable for them.

Con: Lack of structure for kids who thrive in a structured environment. With this, there may be some difficulty, for working parents, in keeping up with your student's academic schedule. This can be especially difficult for children with focus issues, challenges working independently, or those with IEP's (Individualized Education Plans).

Pro: Less time getting ready in the morning or dealing with transportation issues.

Con: Overall classmate interactions are lacking with online learning. There is less of an opportunity to make friends without a classroom environment.

The Pros and Cons of In-Person Learning

Pro: Structure and consistency are established during the first weeks of in-person school. Students understand what safety measures need to be followed to stay safe in the classroom.

Con: Increased risk of exposure to COVID-19. Understanding your school's specific safety protocols and worst-case-scenario plans is key to setting your child up for in-person success. If your child is in a classroom with someone who was exposed to COVID-19, your school needs to have a plan in place to inform the families, clean and sanitize the facilities and quarantine those at the highest risk of possible exposure.

Pro: Peer interaction is heightened in the in-person learning environment. Students can meet their teachers face-to-face as well as establish relationships with their classmates to some level. Learning is more interactive and group-oriented.

Con: Limited peer interaction along with increased regulations may increase mental stress and anxiety in some children. Speaking to your children about social distancing and mental health is imperative to a successful in-person learning environment experience.

Pro: A planned schedule is established based on the school's schedule. Working parents can send their children to school while still maintaining their career without too much strain on additional help requirements that would come with online learning.

Con: With the uncertainty of COVID-19 cases that can come with school reopening, parents may be hit with quarantine requirements for their students abruptly. This can cause more strain on a parent's work schedule and require more time off than available for the parent, increasing stress levels.

Ways to Support Your Child with Either Learning Style

Now, more than ever, your children need your unconditional support. Understanding that this school year is completely different from all others they've experienced needs to be communicated to them early on and often. Talk to your kids about their feelings, and academics daily. Make an informed choice about their learning plan and then discuss it with them, in detail, before the school year begins. This will relieve anxious feelings that they may have around COVID-19 and the new school year in general. Make sure your children are comfortable with your choice and provide reasoning for your decision. mental state,

The weight of this decision is heavy on our minds and hearts as parents. The feelings you have are valid as you are trying to navigate a pandemic while also ensuring your children receive the best education possible. Stay up-to-date and informed on options that your school district provides and ask questions as you see fit. Your child's health, safety and education are of utmost importance as we venture into a new, unique school year.

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Online vs. In-Person Learning - Pediatric Care Group, P.C.

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Weighing your options on in-person vs. online schooling for your K-12 child is essential in understanding and deciding upon the best option for your family.

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In the fifth and final part of our series of essays from kids, you'll hear from Rory, in California; Shanaya, in Tennessee; and Carolina, in New York. They experienced loneliness and isolation during the pandemic. Now, all of them are looking ahead and fighting for a bright future-one where COVID-19 will be history!

TFK Kid Reporter Rory Hu, age 11

Cupertino, California

Courtesy Yanlin Wu

Blame the Avengers. They took the Infinity Stones, altered the flow of time, and turned the world upside down. Seriously, 2020 felt so strange. It was as if we had entered a parallel timeline. Everything around me has gone virtual: virtual school, virtual playdates, virtual birthday parties. This virtual world made me feel anxious, lonely, and bored, at first. Then it hit me that this past year, my family has had a chance to spend more time together than ever before. Same with my friends. For example, I had no idea about a friend's artistic skills until we began collaborating on a Zoom whiteboard. Although the real distance was very great, we got much closer virtually.

The world is as real as before, if not more so, despite all the virtual activity. The issues around me, such as the California wildfires and Asian hate crimes, are very real, even though I learned about them online. The pandemic is not the only battle we are fighting. It's time to get real and stand up for our future.

Shanaya Pokharna, age 12

Memphis, Tennessee

Courtesy Payal Pokharna

I had never imagined that at age 12, I would be witness to something so unusual, something that would become history: a pandemic, something people only hear about in textbooks. Unimaginable, unfathomable, unforgettable is how I describe 2020.

This was a year full of emotions. My mother was sick in an isolated room for 20 days. She got COVID-19 when the world was waking up to "just another flu" in early March. My father is an infectious-disease physician. He tirelessly cared for COVID patients in inundated hospitals, navigating the lack of supplies and finally contracting the disease himself.

So, 2020 has matured me by a few years. From my parents and the people around me, I learned the virtues of compassion, patience, hard work, selflessness, dedication, gratefulness, and passion toward one's profession and family. There are so many things we take for granted. But 2020 made me realize how important these things are.

Carolina Caraballo, age 11

Bronx, New York

Mario Caraballo

A year ago, I said goodbye to my life as I knew it and hello to the infamous year in quarantine: 2020, the year I will never forget, a year full of changes I'm still getting used to.

As a student, I was asked to change how I learn. When quarantine began, I was midway through fifth grade. From one day to the next, my bedroom, kitchen, and dining table became my classroom. I had to learn how to learn on a screen. Online learning had its perks, and was even exciting at first. You can't beat the comfort of being home. However, the seemingly endless Zooms got old real quick. Top that with feelings of loneliness and isolation, and I had had enough of remote learning a month in. No amount of screen time could make up for in-person interactions with friends.

I am now in the sixth grade and have returned to school in person two days a week. Returning has been an interesting and different experience. Oh, who am I kidding? It's been plain weird! But I'm grateful that I get to see teachers and friends face-to-face.

I keep reminding myself that 2020 will make for great stories to look back on when we are older. I had a socially distanced 11th birthday. I had endless family time. I learned how to make scrambled eggs, pancakes, banana bread, and cake from scratch.

My mind hasn't fully wrapped itself around all that is now part of my history. Twenty years from now, a kid just like me will be learning about what I went through, in a history class. I think that's pretty amazing!

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In the fifth and final part of our series of essays from kids, you'll hear from Rory, in California; Shanaya, in Tennessee; and Carolina, in New York. They experienced loneliness and isolation during the pandemic. Now, all of them are...

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What has the last year been like for you? We asked TIME for Kids readers and TFK Kid Reporters, past and present, to think about the pandemic. How has it changed our lives? Most of you wrote to us about...

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In March, as schools were closing to slow the spread of COVID-19, a new website was launched called Eldera. Eldera was designed to help people make connections even while practicing social distancing. It pairs kids with adults 60 and over for tutoring and conversation. "We're building what we call a virtual village," Dana Griffin, one of Eldera's founders, told TIME for Kids. "Each and every connection brings so much joy to the kids and to the elders." To learn more about Eldera, TFK Kid Reporter Nora Wilson-Hartgrove registered for the service and did a session. She writes about her experience below.
As of May 4, 72% of students around the world were out of school because of COVID-19. That means many of us are dealing with remote learning, and that we probably have some extra time on our hands.

Eldera is a new service offering help during this difficult time. The website matches kids with elders. These volunteers are 60 years old and over. Once a kid and an elder have been paired, Eldera brings them together over Zoom. It gives them a chance to connect.

Kids can choose to be tutored in math or reading, to have the elder tell them stories, or just to have a conversation. With my dad's help, I signed up so I could learn firsthand about Eldera and write about it for TIME for Kids.

The first step is to ask a parent to register with their name and email address. Then Eldera asks your parent some questions about what you're interested in and when you're available. Before long, your parent gets an email telling her or him about the elder you've been matched with. All the elders are vetted by Eldera to make sure the process is safe. Then the Eldera team schedules your first session and sends a link to a virtual meeting room.

When I met my elder partner, Jackie, we had a great time. She told me two stories, and we had a nice conversation. We talked about how stories can seem silly and distracting. But they can also remind us of how people have made it through hard times in the past.

I would recommend Eldera to kids and adults who love to interact with people and need something to look forward to right now. It's a fun way to interact with new people. After six weeks at home, Eldera was like a quarantine escape for me!

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In March, as schools were closing to slow the spread of COVID-19, a new website was launched called Eldera. Eldera was designed to help people make connections even while practicing social distancing. It pairs kids with adults 60 and over...

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A McKinsey survey suggests that children still learn better through classroom-based teaching. Image: Unsplash/Annie Spratt

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Kids learn better in class than when studying from home, finds teacher survey

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In every country surveyed by McKinsey, teachers said the pandemic was harming students' educational attainment.

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How to Make Remote Learning Work for Your Children _ WIRED

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Detroit Superintendent Nikolai Vitti knows that, despite his best efforts to convince families, not every student will return to his district's school buildings this fall.

That means virtual learning is here to stay, at least for a while. But Vitti wants it to work differently, with virtual students whose grades or attendance dip getting a formal nudge to return to buildings.

"If the student is not engaging or their grades are low, then I think we need to have a conversation," Vitti said. "Online learning as a standalone, as the only model that a student is accessing for instruction, is not working for the vast majority of our children."

Superintendents across the country are grappling with the same question as they look ahead to the fall: How will they teach students whose families choose to keep them home?

Some families may choose to hold off on in-person instruction until their child has been vaccinated - teens will likely be able to get shots by the fall, but it may take until early 2022 for younger children - while others may opt for virtual learning because they see their child learns better that way.

But as the difficulties of remote learning have become painfully clear, school leaders say they're planning to make changes to their virtual instruction to incorporate lessons learned.

Some are planning to cut back or eliminate teaching done in-person and virtually at the same time. Others will add structures to support virtual students, or set academic bars that students need to clear in order to stay online. Some districts plan to consolidate virtual instruction so it's offered at fewer schools or are asking state officials for permission to launch more permanent, standalone virtual options.

In one high-profile example, New York City's mayor said he plans to eliminate hybrid schedules so students are learning either fully virtually or fully in-person. It's unclear for now if the city will run a virtual program centrally or at individual schools.

"What I think superintendents in our membership are working very, very hard to move past are the kind of overly complicated, sometimes confusing approaches to hybrid learning that, among other things, simply don't give students the learning time and the time in-person or in contact with teachers and support staff that they need," said Mike Magee, who heads Chiefs for Change, an organization that works with dozens of school superintendents.

Teaching students in person and online at the same time has been one of the greatest instructional challenges of the last year. Some say it especially short-changes remote learners, and many districts are hoping they'll be able to stop doing it.

In Fort Wayne, Indiana, about 30% of students remain remote. Superintendent Mark Daniel is hoping that changes by fall, and most of his 30,000 students will return. But elementary schoolers who remain online will be assigned dedicated virtual teachers, allowing the district to avoid the kind of simultaneous instruction it tried at the start of this year.

"Tremendous strain on the teachers, and quite frankly, not best pedagogy," Daniel said. It was untenable enough that the district hired more elementary school teachers and redid younger students' schedules mid-year to create more virtual classes.

He's not sure that separation will be possible for high schoolers, whose course schedules and graduation requirements are more complicated. The district is considering asking teachers who work in person to also carry some virtual students on their rosters - one example of how the pandemic will complicate a third school year.

But he's relieved that a fully virtual teacher will be fully present for younger students, allowing them to quickly press a mute button if there's a disruption, for instance. "You can't do that when the teacher is also trying to teach, if you imagine, 20 first-graders and five or six kids remote," Daniel said. "Not enough arms."

As districts move to more fully divide their online students from their in-person ones, it will likely minimize scheduling headaches and ensure teachers can be more focused on the students in front of them. But it may also create a more isolating experience for students who remain virtual, if they no longer interact with their peers at school.

Already, districts that have divided those students have seen some students need more help than they anticipated.

In an attempt to avoid over-burdening district teachers, Niles Community Schools in southwest Michigan turned to outside providers to work with the 20% of its students who opted for fully virtual learning this year. While they were formally assigned a Niles teacher, students only interacted with the teachers employed by the outside companies.

Superintendent Dan Applegate says some fully virtual students had trouble staying on track. The district made some changes, such as assigning mentors to older students who were struggling to stay motivated. Students who weren't logging in or doing work were encouraged to return to the classroom.

"Next year, we've got a better handle on all that," Applegate says.

This fall, classroom teachers will interact with fully remote students more, fielding questions or reteaching lessons as needed. Applegate intends to use some of the new federal stimulus money to help pay for that additional instruction time.

Meanwhile, some school districts are launching more permanent online schools, or plan to house their fully virtual students at alternative schools. In Ohio, a school district in suburban Toledo plans to continue running its fully virtual option through an "alternative learning academy" that uses an online curriculum from an outside provider. Officials say they will improve the experience with Advanced Placement and honors courses, and will require students to attend regular meetings with their teachers.

Still, there are many external factors that school leaders say are complicating their ability to plan for what kind of instruction they'll offer this fall.

Some are waiting to see if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drops its social distancing recommendation from six to three feet - which would allow many more students to come back into the building for in-person learning at a time - and whether quarantine times will be reduced or eliminated. This year, some districts have found that quarantines have required weeks of impromptu virtual lessons.

Other wild cards include exactly how many families will choose virtual learning, and whether states will continue to fund virtual learning at similar rates as students who are learning in-person. Many school leaders are now surveying families to gauge their interest in continued virtual learning and will do so throughout the summer.

Daniela Simic, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction in Hillsborough County, Florida, said it could take until August for the district to know exactly how many families want to continue with virtual learning.

Right now, around 40% of students are learning virtually, but a lot could change in a few months. She expects as more people get vaccinated, more families will opt in. On top of that, she said, there could be new marching orders from the state. Last summer, Florida required districts to offer five days a week of in-person learning, with some exceptions.

"It's going to be a little hectic," she said. "It's going to be similar to last year."

The benefit of having gone through this already, she said, is they have curriculum and training for teachers ready - regardless of how many students learn online.

"We're prepared to go into action and change our plans if need be," she said. "We've gotten good at shifting our plans with very little notice."

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For some kids, remote learning will continue this fall. Can schools make it better?

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Detroit Superintendent Nikolai Vitti knows that, despite his best efforts to convince families, not every student will return to his district's school buildings this fall. That means virtual learning is here to stay, at least for a while. But Vitti wants it to work differently, with virtual students whose grades or attendance dip getting a formal nudge to return to buildings.

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Last week, many kids in the United States returned to school after winter break. They did so just as COVID-19 cases were reaching record levels. School districts are scrambling to protect their students. The surge in COVID-19 infections has been…

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Esteban Tarango, 12, was excited to make new friends when he started middle school this year, in Tempe, Arizona. Instead, his school year kicked off in front of a computer screen. "I'm honestly kind of sad," Esteban told TIME for Kids. "I feel like I'm missing out."

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the back-to-school experience has been upended × upend YOUNGVET-GETTY IMAGES to turn something upside down (verb) The storm upended our plan to visit the playground. for students everywhere. As of mid-July, school closures had affected more than a billion students worldwide, according to United Nations secretary-general António Guterres. In an August 4 video message, he said the pandemic "has led to the largest disruption of education ever."

PAUL HENNESSY-NURPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

In the United States, many schools have reopened with remote learning only. Some have brought students back into the classroom. Others are offering a mix of online and in-person instruction.

For students who have returned to their school buildings, life looks very different. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided guidance that schools can follow to protect against the spread of COVID-19. That's the disease caused by the novel × novel JOSE LUIS PELAEZ INC/GETTY IMAGES not seen before (adjective) My teacher has a novel way of teaching multiplication. coronavirus.

PAUL HENNESSY-NURPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

Hand-sanitizer stations and temperature checks are common in schools. New rules have been put in place, too. "We'll have to wear a mask," Mia Westerman told TFK over the summer. She's a sixth-grade student in Clarksburg, West Virginia. "We'll have to social-distance," she added. "And we're not allowed to change classes or eat in the cafeteria."

The Big Picture

The novel coronavirus was discovered in 2019. Because it is new to people, our understanding of it is always changing. Recent studies show young people are not as likely as adults to get seriously sick from the virus. But kids can spread it to others. When kids are together at school, the chances increase that the virus will spread to the larger community.

BEN HASTY-MEDIANEWS GROUP/READING EAGLE/GETTY IMAGES

Decisions about how and when to reopen schools for in-person learning are being made on a case-by-case basis. They're constantly reevaluated by government officials and school leaders.

"It depends on where you are," Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a July 24 interview with the Washington Post, when asked if kids should be back in classrooms. Fauci is the nation's top infectious-disease expert. "We live in a very large country," he added. In some parts of the United States, the virus is better controlled than in others.

GILLIAN LAUB FOR TIME

No Easy Solution

There are no easy answers about the best way to learn during the pandemic. In-person learning would help the economy by allowing some parents to go back to work. Still, many people think remote learning is the safest option for now.

Yet learning away from teachers and classmates is isolating, especially when done for long periods of time. It's having an effect on kids' mental health. The pandemic has also created greater inequalities. Kids who rely on school for some of their meals might not have enough to eat. And students who lack access to computers or reliable Internet are having a harder time getting their work done.

COURTESY ESTEBAN TARANGO

"There are concerns about not everybody having the technology and tools they need," Melissa Seltzer says. She teaches third grade in New York City.

There's so much uncertainty in the world right now. But one thing is for sure: You and your classmates are part of history. Years from now, kids will learn about the pandemic. They'll read about students like Esteban, in Arizona, and Mia, in West Virginia. They'll want to hear about your experience, too. And they will see you and your classmates as part of a resilient × resilient MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens (adjective) Janay is a resilient athlete, who has recovered from several injuries. generation.

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Esteban Tarango, 12, was excited to make new friends when he started middle school this year, in Tempe, Arizona. Instead, his school year kicked off in front of a computer screen. "I'm honestly kind of sad," Esteban told TIME for...

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At KIPP Texas Public Schools, we strongly believe that in-person learning is the best option for our students. Inside our schools, there is more joy and rigor, the best academic and social-emotional experience and development for students, and a safe learning environment that continues to follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. We are committed to providing a safe, rigorous, and fun in-person learning environment where students thrive and meet their goals of college, career and beyond.

We also recognize that families may have concerns about sending their KIPPster back to school during the COVID-19 pandemic, and rightfully so. We also have always created environments where even our most medically-fragile students can experience school feeling cared for while also having their needs met.
There are four reasons why we strongly believe in in-person learning:
1. In-Person Learning Supports Students with Forming Stronger Connections

Studies show that socializing and developing friendships helps children learn more about themselves, helps them build empathy, and form lasting relationships with peers.

It probably goes without saying that children are more likely to develop worthwhile connections in-person than online. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a statement earlier this summer highlighting the importance of in-person connection for the development of children.

When students are in the same physical setting, making connections feels natural and it is unquestionably easier to reach out to classmates and teachers alike. In-person classes lead to organic discussions where students can bounce ideas off of one another. For remote classes, by contrast, the on-screen dynamic can be impersonal and largely anonymous. "There is little sense of friendship or relationship between the students that would usually be built in traditional in-person classes," says Daphane Carter, KIPP Texas State Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer. "

Connections formed through in-person interaction are crucial to the social and emotional development of children. This especially applies to children with behavioral or other developmental needs.

2. In-Person Learning Creates Stronger Academic Experiences for Students

Research shows that students learn more when they are in-person at school. Students receiving in-person instruction have fewer distractions, increased concentration, and can receive more direct, personalized learning experiences that keep them from falling behind.

When together in the classroom, KIPP Texas teachers can better connect with each individual student and offer more personalized one-on-one attention and coaching.

Interactivity is key in a learning environment. This can be harder to achieve without time spent in the physical classroom, particularly if online learning is delivered to a large class rather than in small tutored groups or one-on-one environments.

Students participating in in-person learning also benefit from more collaborative and hands-on work with their peers. Students can more easily ask questions and solve problems directly with teachers and peers in real-time.

3. In-Person Learning Helps Improve Mental Health

While authentic connection is a huge component of mental health for children, there are a few other aspects that come into play-specifically ones that children can find much easier with in-person learning and interactions.

Just like adults, kids need physical activity, human interaction, a lot of sunlight, and healthy food to maintain their mental health.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics , "...children get much more than academics at school. They also learn social and emotional skills at school, get healthy meals and exercise, mental health support and other services that cannot be easily replicated online."

4. In-Person Learning Suits Different Learning Styles

Every child has a different learning style. Oftentimes, these learning styles are separated into four different categories:

1. Visual, who retain information better if they can see it or watch the demonstration of an idea.

2. Auditory learners, who are at their best when they can hear information.

3. Reading/writing, where children learn best when using the written word by taking notes.

4. Kinetic learners, or children who learn with hands-on experience.

Online learning presents a few challenges for each learning style. For example, kinetic learners find difficulty using physical techniques to retain information when most of the lessons are visual and auditory focused. And auditory learners may be distracted by seeing their peers' faces on screen while the teacher is talking.

Being together in a classroom allows a teacher to guide each student according to their unique abilities, and have a good perspective on whether the children themselves are utilizing them to their best ability.

A More Inclusive Approach

We know many learners find their most enriching development experiences in experiential and personalized learning, from group work with classmates, internships, and mentorships. By incorporating more of these activities as part of the overall learner experience, we have created a more seamless way to integrate hybrid experiences for our middle and high school students that take advantage of the resources in our network and are not siloed to one city.

We are so looking forward to having our KIPPsters back in person for the 2021-22 school year and can't wait to continue walking alongside them and their families, supporting their academic journey, and providing them with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose-college, career, and beyond.

How We Keep In-Person Learning Safe for Your Kids

Helping your children get healthy interaction through in-person learning while staying safe from coronavirus isn't an easy feat. But at KIPP Texas, we're doing our best to provide parents with the resources they need to help their children succeed during this challenging time.

At KIPP Texas, your children can make tons of friends, form bonds with their coaches and teachers, stay active, and release stress.

KIPP Texas highly recommends all individuals wear a face covering when inside our buildings and on our campuses.

We will socially distance to the extent possible in our classrooms, buildings, and offices...with some good old fashioned fun, all while staying safely socially-distanced.

Children and teachers experiencing any symptoms of illness are asked to stay home.

Facilities are cleaned daily, and high-touch and high-traffic areas will be disinfected with greater frequency. disinfected thoroughly and regularly, both by us and a cleaning crew.

We have put together this Health & Safety Protocols document for a summary of these protocols and created a "Health and Safety Guidelines" webpage with this same information for easy access. Additionally, because I know that these high-level protocols do not answer every single scenario and question you might have, we are also sharing this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document with answers that we anticipate you'll need.

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Four Benefits of In-Person Learning - KIPP Texas Public Schools

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At KIPP Texas Public Schools, we strongly believe that in-person learning is the best option for our students. Inside our schools, there is more joy and rigor, the best academic and social-emotional experience and development for students, and a safe learning environment that continues to follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

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As if being a parent doesn't already come with a million choices to make every day, 2020 has really put our decisiveness to the test.

One huge decision has been looming over all of us: Do I take the risk of sending my child to in-person education?

When it comes to parenting during a pandemic, the struggle is real. It can feel like no answer is the right one, and with conflicting opinions flying around, it's hard to determine who you can trust for advice.

At Mountain Kids, we care about you and your child's wellbeing-mental and physically. To offer some support in this unprecedented journey, I decided to do a bit of research on the issue myself.

It turns out the benefits of in-person schooling might very well outweigh the risks. That's right-there could be good reasons for sending your child to school-beyond needing to focus on work, or having a break from homeschooling!

Read on to learn 3 strong arguments that prove in-person learning might be the way to go this year.

In-Person Learning Helps Children Form Better Connections

Childhood is a crucial time. It seems that every day, your kids are learning something new.

A lot of those lessons revolve around how to form healthy connections with others. And healthy connections with others mean advanced development in other areas.

Studies show that socializing and developing friendships helps children learn more about themselves, helps them build empathy, and even cope better with stress .

What's the difference between online connection and in-person connecting? It can be compared to the idea of networking vs. connecting .

While life in the online realm can help your kids meet more people on a surface level, face-to-face interactions and quality time can help children know more people.

It probably goes without saying that children are more likely to develop worthwhile connections in-person than online. The Center for Disease Control released a statement earlier this summer highlighting the importance of in-person connection for the development of children.

The statement said that connections formed through in-person interaction is crucial to the social and emotional development of children. This especially applies to children with behavioral or other developmental needs.

Anyone parent who's had to chase their kid back to their laptop to get ready for their online class can see the truth in this. Seeing your child free with friends on the playground is much more fulfilling than watching them struggle to connect and bond with friends over a screen.

In-Person Learning Improves Mental Health

While authentic connection is a huge component of mental health for children, there are a few other aspects that come into play-specifically ones that children can find much easier with in-person learning and interactions.

Just like adults, kids need physical activity, human interaction, a lot of sunlight, and healthy food to maintain their mental health.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics , "...children get much more than academics at school. They also learn social and emotional skills at school, get healthy meals and exercise, mental health support and other services that cannot be easily replicated online."

As a parent, you can make sure your kiddos have healthy snacks and stay active after school, but you can't be everything for your child. They still need to spend time with their teachers, peers, coaches, best friends, and more.

Studies showed remote learning led to an increase in anxiety , depression, and suicidal thoughts for school age children. With few changes made in the online structure, it seems likely these rates will continue to rise, as long as children are learning solely from home.

In-Person Learning Suits Different Learning Styles

Every child has a different learning style. Oftentimes, these learning styles are separated into 4 different categories:

1. Visual, where they retain information better if they can see it or watch the demonstration of an idea.

2. Auditory learners, who are at their best when they can hear information.

3. Reading/writing, where children learn best when using the written word by taking notes.

4. Kinetic learners, or children who learn with hands-on experience.

Online learning presents a few challenges for each learning style. For example, kinetic learners find difficulty using physical techniques to retain information when most of the lessons are visual and auditory focused. And auditory learners may be distracted by seeing their peers' faces on screen while the teacher is talking.

Being together in a classroom allows a teacher to guide each student according to their unique abilities, and have a good perspective on whether the children themselves are utilizing them to their best ability.

How We Keep In-Person Learning Safe for Your Kids

Helping your children get healthy interaction through in-person learning while staying safe from coronavirus isn't an easy feat. But at Mountain Kids, we're doing our best to provide parents with the resources they need to help their children succeed during this challenging time.

Take our in-person gymnastic, dance, and Ninjazone classes for example. At Mountain Kids, your children can make tons of friends, form bonds with their coaches and teachers, stay active, and release stress with some good old fashioned fun, all while staying safely socially-distanced .

We've limited the number of students to meet state guidelines and staggered class start times to limit contact during classroom transition. We accommodate and encourage curbside drop off.

Children and teachers experiencing any symptoms of illness are asked to stay home, and we enforce a health check at drop off including to take their temperature before they come in the gym.

Facilities are disinfected thoroughly and regularly, both by us and a cleaning crew. While students aren't required to wear masks during distanced physical activity, all teachers will wear theirs at all time.

There's no better time than now to help take care of your child's mental health and social skills. And there are safe ways to make sure they're active, happy and healthy!
Sign up for gymnastics, dance, and Ninjazone classes today >

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Why In-Person Learning is Best for Children - Mountain Kids Louisville

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It turns out the benefits of in-person schooling might very well outweigh the risks. Read on to find out why.

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As debates rage across the country over whether schools should teach online or in person, students like Sean Vargas-Arcia have experienced the pros and cons of both.

"I'm much happier in person," said Sean, 16, a junior at Yonkers Middle High School in New York. As Covid-19 rates have fluctuated, he has gone back and forth between online classes and attending in person two days per week.

It's stressful worrying about contracting the coronavirus at school, said Sean, who has health issues including epilepsy and a grandmother who lives with his family. But his online classes wear him down.

"When I'm at home, fully remote, it's more like a sluggish feeling," he said. "I'm usually feeling distressed and tired and I just don't want anything to do with school anymore."

There's no question that the pandemic has been hard on children, whether or not their schools have reopened. A flood of research in recent months has found alarming spikes in depression and anxiety among children and their parents. Multiple studies have found that students - especially those with disabilities and from low-income families - are learning less than they should.

But a new study from NBC News and Challenge Success, a nonprofit affiliated with the Stanford Graduate School of Education, is one of the first to shed light on the differences between students whose classes have been exclusively online and those who've been able to attend in person at least one day per week.
All this week, watch "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt" and the "TODAY" show for more on "Kids Under Pressure," a series examining the impact of the pandemic on children

The survey last fall of more than 10,000 students in 12 U.S. high schools, including Yonkers, found that students who'd spent time in the classroom reported lower rates of stress and worry than their online peers.

While just over half of all students surveyed said they were more stressed about school in 2020 than they had been previously, the issue was more pronounced among remote students. Eighty-four percent of remote students reported exhaustion, headaches, insomnia or other stress-related ailments, compared to 82 percent of students who were in the classroom on some days and 78 percent of students who were in the classroom full time.

Remote students were also slightly less likely to say they had an adult they could go to with a personal problem and slightly more likely to fret about grades than their peers in the classroom. And the remote students did more homework, reporting an average of 90 additional minutes per week, the study found.

"Remote learning - and I don't think this is a surprise to anyone - is just more challenging," said Sarah Miles, the director of research and programs at Challenge Success and one of the leaders of the study. "It's harder for kids to feel connected. It's harder for teachers, for the adults in the school, to connect and that's a foundational element. In order for kids to learn, they need to feel safe and connected. Everything else rests on top of that."

Challenge Success, an education research and school support organization, surveys most students in dozens of schools a year to help teachers and administrators better meet their needs. The 12 schools surveyed last fall, in Arizona, Texas, New York and the Midwest, are demographically similar to the nation in terms of student family income, though not necessarily in terms of race, Miles said.

The debate around reopening U.S. schools has become increasingly fraught, with parents and political leaders including President Joe Biden loudly calling for schools to reopen and teachers in some parts of the country threatening to walk off the job over safety concerns. On Friday, the Biden administration released guidelines for how to safely reopen schools, advising precautions including masks, social distancing and contact tracing.

Miles said the new research doesn't mean that schools should rush to reopen before putting safety protocols in place. Instead, she said, it shows the importance of making sure teachers and staff members feel comfortable returning to the classroom.

"If they don't feel safe and supported, kids won't feel safe and supported," she said.

But, at the same time, she said, the study underscores the damage online learning is doing.

"We need to prioritize getting to a place where everyone feels comfortable going back to school," Miles said, "because it's urgent."

'A bit of magic' in the classroom

All of Jordan Salhoobi's chemistry students at Yonkers Middle High School are getting the same lessons at the same time.

The ones wearing masks in his classroom hear the same lectures and see the same demonstrations as students watching the livestream at home. When he writes or draws on his computer tablet, students at home see the same images on their screens that students in the classroom see projected on the wall.

But Salhoobi's students are not getting the same benefits, he said.

"In the room, you get more eye contact," he said. "On the screen, oftentimes the kid could be sitting in front of a window. You can't see them, so it's hard to make sure they're attentive."

While it's difficult to compare his students' performance, Salhoobi said his in-person students sometimes stay after class for extra help that online students rarely ask for. Online students seem more reluctant to raise their hands and they often look tired.

"I think that actually coming to school and getting dressed makes kids feel more like they have a purpose in life," he said.

When Yonkers started offering a hybrid option in October that allows students to attend in person either Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday, most students chose to remain online. Only about a third of students are currently in the hybrid program, a Yonkers district spokeswoman said, leaving many classrooms with just a handful of students.
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Yonkers principal Jade Sharp said that she hasn't seen significant differences in grades or test scores between remote and hybrid students, but that she wasn't surprised to see survey data showing that her remote students are more stressed.

"I feel sorry for our students in this Covid situation," she said, noting that many of her 1,100 high school students have responsibilities at home such as caring for younger siblings in addition to their schoolwork. Three-quarters come from families the state considers economically disadvantaged, including many from immigrant families. Some have parents who've lost jobs. Some lost loved ones to Covid-19. And many are reeling from the social and political tensions of the past year.

The school goes out of its way to support students, Sharp said, limiting instruction to half days on "wellness Wednesdays," and hosting after-school clubs focused on mental health.

But none of that offers what even a couple of days in the classroom interacting with teachers and peers can do, said Tara O'Sullivan, who teaches U.S. history at Yonkers.

"There's a bit of magic that can happen in a classroom," O'Sullivan said. "There's nothing like the rapport and energy of kids working with each other, the sort of flow of conversation and bouncing off ideas that's obviously present in person."

Headaches and eye strain

Tanya Palmer, 16, a Yonkers junior, has managed to keep up her grades this year - but only because she puts in extra time to make up for what she's missing in class.

"I don't feel like I'm really learning much," said Tanya, who chose to stay remote to protect her 75-year-old grandfather, who lives with her family. "There's a lot of teaching myself things."

Things have gotten better since the beginning of the school year when technical glitches were more common and teachers were still adjusting. But when she finishes her five hours of online classes each day, she's often staring down hours of extra research and reading to actually learn the material.

"I get a lot of headaches and eye strain," she said. "My eyes are so dry, and I get back pain, too."

The NBC News and Challenge Success study found that online-only students in Yonkers reported an average of 31 minutes more homework on the weekend and 70 more minutes during the week than their classmates in the hybrid program. Though most students were not getting anywhere close to the nine hours of sleep recommended for adolescents, reporting just over six hours, the hybrid students reported sleeping an average of about 10 minutes more per night than their online peers.

"It's 10 o'clock and I see her on the computer," said Tanya Gonzalez, Tanya's mother. "I get close to her, thinking maybe she's watching a video, but no, she's doing classwork."
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Sean Vargas-Arcia had more energy when he was in school two days a week, and more ways to understand his coursework, he said, recalling how he struggled last semester to visualize the molecular structure of fatty acids known as lipids until he saw a 3-D model in his biology classroom.

"I was like, 'Oh, that helps,' because I could actually see it," he said.

These days, however, Sean is back to being fully online. So few students returned when the school reopened last month after closing for a few weeks because of higher infection rates that he was the only student in some of his classes. He decided there wasn't much point, so now he wakes up, walks across his room and sits down in front of a computer from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. without a break. A quirk in his schedule put his lunch hour at the end of the day.

With college applications looming, Sean worries his grades in online classes will suffer, costing him his shot at his first-choice, Brown University, next year.

"There's a lot of anxiety that surrounds thinking about my future," he said.

He's also struggling with isolation from his friends. He used the quiet hours over the summer for reflection and, in September, came out to family and friends as transgender. He announced his name change on social media, but most of his classmates haven't seen him in person since then.

Everything has been more difficult this year for students at Yonkers, an academically selective school that draws a diverse mix of students - half Latino, 20 percent white, 15 percent Asian, 13 percent Black - from the city of the same name just north of New York City. Sports and after-school programs are largely gone, and school events, like the gala Yonkers traditionally throws in the spring to celebrate the many cultures in the school, have been canceled.

For some students, it's a small price to pay to keep their families safe, said Emma Maher, 17, a junior who chose the online option because her sister has asthma and her grandmother has a compromised immune system.

"The sacrifice is worth it," she said, "because I value the health of my family and loved ones."

But educators worry about the long-term impact on a generation of children who are stressed out, struggling to learn and missing their friends.

"You took away so much from these kids," said Salhoobi, the chemistry teacher. "You took away sports. You took away interactions. It's kind of like kids are in jail now when they're 100 percent online."

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'Distressed and tired': Remote students worry more than peers in the classroom, study shows

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As debates rage across the country over whether schools should teach online or in person, students like Sean Vargas-Arcia have experienced the pros and cons of both. "I'm much happier in person," said Sean, 16, a junior at Yonkers Middle High School in New York.

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Amid the chaos of getting my three kids up and running with distance learning, proper computer ergonomics admittedly were not top of mind. We were scrambling to get everyone logged into their Zoom sessions, troubleshoot technology glitches and keep up with the information onslaught from more than a dozen teachers.

Though my house doubled as a makeshift school, it didn't look much like a classroom should. My high-schooler worked while sprawled across a beanbag on the living room floor, hunched over his computer. My middle-schooler, laptop in tow, rotated throughout the day from his desk to the kitchen counter to the couch to the backyard patio table. My fifth-grade daughter worked at a desk most of the time, but her laptop screen was too low, forcing her to look down while she worked, and within a few weeks she started complaining of neck pain.

No wonder.

Early into a school year dramatically reshaped by the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 30 million public school students are doing virtual learning either every day or part time, according to Burbio, a company that is tracking school openings across the nation.
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With so many students spending unprecedented long hours on their computers to keep up their grades, experts are reminding parents that without a proper home workstation, remote learning may cause aches and pains and potentially lead to injuries over time.

"We don't think of kids getting repetitive stress injuries or fatigue injuries or musculoskeletal aches and pains like the parents and grandparents get," said Dr. Theodore Ganley, an orthopedic surgeon at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics section on orthopedics. But children "are not immune from these things," especially if they work at computers day after day in awkward postures, he said.

"If kids are slouched and sitting with their feet off the ground, they're hunched over, they're staring for hours upon hours without breaks, they can get neck strain, back strain, eye strain," Ganley said. "These are the kinds of things that can affect anyone."

Doctors know that poor posture while working on a computer can cause discomfort, with pain developing in a relatively short time. More serious repetitive stress injuries such as tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome usually take at least six to 12 months to develop.

Computer-related injuries on the job can be tracked in adults via workers' compensation claims, but there is no central database tallying these issues in kids, experts say. While children typically haven't worked as intensely on computers as adults on the job, distance learning now requires many kids to spend much more time on computers than in the past and in a home environment that may not be properly equipped like a classroom. Exactly how this may impact them is unclear.

Researchers have observed that the average age of onset of these injuries has declined from the early 40s in the mid-1990s to the early 20s now, according to ergonomics expert Alan Hedge, a professor emeritus at Cornell University. He worries that kids who are doing a lot of computer work in bad postures might start incurring cumulative damage that may not reveal itself until they develop injuries later on, even as they become adults entering the busy workforce. He's also concerned about the possibility of spinal deformities in young children who spend excessive time hunched over a computer while their bones are still developing.

"These injuries tend to be slow and they tend to be progressive," starting as discomfort, then aches, then pains, then injuries, Hedge explained. "So you have time to break in and stop that progression from happening."

Here's how you can help your child stay safe.

Distance learning can be quite challenging, so it may be difficult to get kids to sit properly at a desk all day with every other stressor they are dealing with right now. So do your best to help them improve their posture most of the time, experts say. Once they realize how much more comfortable they feel, they may even thank you.

Ideally, children and adults alike should maintain a neutral posture while sitting at a computer, with the spine not twisted or bent, the lower back supported and the neck straight.

Forearms and thighs should be roughly parallel to the floor, and feet should be flat and supported, not dangling.

Arms should rest comfortably at the sides, with wrists straight and relaxed.

The work area should be well-lit with the monitor positioned at approximately arm's-length and the top part of the screen comfortably at eye level.

To ease eye strain, Hedge suggests the 20-20-20 rule, "which is that every 20 minutes you look more than 20 feet away from you to rest the eyes and blink your eyes for at least 20 seconds."

Desktop computers are more easily adjustable at a workstation, but small, portable laptops and tablets that many kids use can present ergonomic challenges.

"Technology like a laptop computer was never designed to really be an ergonomic product because when the screen is in a good position, it's pretty well impossible to use the keyboard," Hedge said. "And when the keyboard is in a good position, it's really hard to use the screen other than in a very awkward posture."

Children working on laptops may need to place a book or box underneath to raise it up to a comfortable level. Another option for achieving a neutral posture is to get a holder designed for a laptop or tablet. Kids using laptops or tablets also may benefit from an external keyboard and mouse so they can keep their wrists straight.

An adjustable ergonomic chair can help a child achieve proper positioning at a desk or table, but these chairs can get pricey and may not be affordable, especially if there are multiple people in your household working from home. An alternative is to equip a regular chair to make it more comfortable for kids by using pillows to raise up the child or rolling up towels for lower-back support. Kids may need to put their feet on a box or footrest.

Breaks are built into the normal school day as students do things like play at recess, switch classes and walk to lunch. But remote learning can be one long sedentary grind with eyes glued to the screen unless you actively plan to break up the day.

"Try to make sure that your kids don't spend too long, certainly no more than 30 minutes at a time, before they stand up, move around, shake things out," Hedge said.

Dr. Jennifer Weiss, an orthopedic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, recommends that kids do stretching exercises, especially activities that uncurl the body from the hunched-over position that many fall into while on a computer.

"No. 1 is doing some sort of counterstretching throughout the day, even in bite sizes," Weiss said. "So when they have their lunch break, have them do some counterstretches, whether it's in the form of putting on a five-minute yoga YouTube video for them, whether it's getting together as a family and having a plank party, doing some planks and some backbending sort of activities."

Lunchtime is also a good opportunity to get the whole family outside for an invigorating walk, game or other activity. Children may be missing recess and sports, but they still need the recommended hour or more of physical activity a day for overall health.

My daughter told me her neck had been hurting, but not all kids will communicate that they're feeling uncomfortable or achy while doing computer work, and they may not make the connection to their workstation.

Red flags include discomfort or pain, commonly in the neck, shoulders, back, wrists or hands, as well as tension headaches. If pain persists even after you make ergonomic adjustments to your child's workstation and incorporate rest breaks, experts advise consulting a doctor.

After adjusting my daughter's workstation to raise up her screen, she felt better right away and hasn't complained since. Now if only we could get rid of that beanbag.
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Remote learning can be a pain for kids in more ways than one

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Amid the chaos of getting my three kids up and running with distance learning, proper computer ergonomics admittedly were not top of mind. We were scrambling to get everyone logged into their Zoom sessions, troubleshoot technology glitches and keep up with the information onslaught from more than a dozen teachers.

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By Arctic Meta,

For most people, the past couple of years dramatically changed so much when it comes to connectivity and technology.

Lockdowns and curfews forced many workers all over the world to move towards remote working or a hybrid model . There were many things before November 2019 that could only be done in person, and now, it's understood that this simply isn't the case.

Another element of daily life that moved to an online space during the pandemic was education. When governments decided it was time to close the schools, many were left wondering exactly how it was going to work, and within a very short space of time, it became the new normal.

Most school students have begun going back to physical classes, but this experiment in remote learning that was born from a health crisis has led many to wonder what the future of education might hold. So what have people discovered? Does it work? What are the benefits of remote learning?

There's a lot to consider, but below are the top eleven benefits of learning remotely.

1. Greater Control Over Your Learning

It also enables the learning experience to take place at times when their interest, motivation and engagement are at their peaks.

Overall, remote learning can give more power to a student (and their parents) in order to make sure they are getting the most out of their educational journey, specific to their particular needs.

2. Accessibility

Accessibility is a big talking point at the moment. The concept goes beyond physical location too. The advent of digital learning has made it possible for students in many different situations to continue to learn where they wouldn't have been able to before.

3. Students Work at Their Own Pace

The reason for this is that there are so many variables and individual students need to deal with while they are taking on new pieces of information.

One of the biggest struggles most educators are familiar with is the fact that there is a specific amount of things that they must get through in a specific amount of time.

When an individual student doesn't seem to grasp a topic at the same rate as their peers, there can be a danger that they are left behind because the education locomotive must keep marching to the beat of the majority.

Educational software can also limit a student's access to later topics until it has been established that they have a sound framework and understanding to move forward.

4. Time Flexibility

For many younger children, this isn't really an issue during normal school hours, but as stated earlier, if they are falling behind, the chance to catch up in their own time can level the playing field between them and their peers.

Time flexibility can also come into play as students from different socio-economic backgrounds get older. A reality for many teenagers is that they not only want to have part-time jobs, for many of them, they also need to.

5. Resources Accessed Remotely

This quite simply means that the old excuse of, 'I forgot my textbook,' doesn't really matter anymore.

Remote learning lets students have the best and most accurate information all the time.

6. Continuity of Education

A positive outcome of this is that there is now an accepted understanding among educational experts that remote learning helps to keep good continuity in the education of a student during times like this.

The applications of this go beyond the pandemic too. Remote learning can assist with educational continuity for students who are sick, moving to new cities, living in remote communities, and many other situations.

7. Supporting Students of All Abilities

Nobody would disagree with the statement that every student is different and therefore will have different strengths and weaknesses.

There's also way more understanding now when it comes to the different abilities of individual students and how that shouldn't mean that their education journey is compromised.

Using the technology within a remote learning framework can help to ensure that differently-abled students don't fall behind.

8. Catch Up With Ease and Revisit Topics

Many parents would remember that during their school years if they missed a lesson or topic in class, they were normally told that it was up to them to catch up.

This is the reason why for many millennials who are bad at math, the joke 'I was sick that day' is both funny and believable.

The same thing can be said about revision. Teachers encourage students to revise what they have learned throughout the year.

Thanks to technology, it's now possible to make catch up and revision much more manageable for the student. With remote learning, students have access to the course materials at all times, so they are able to catch up whenever they like.

There are many online education systems where teachers can also create revision quizzes that students can take at their leisure. With remote learning, the process of revision or catching up doesn't have to be 'sink or swim.'

9. Supports Knowledge Building of Technology

Technology informs a lot about how we conduct our daily lives . Often those who stand to gain the most out of new technologies are referred to as ' Early Adopters .'

These are the people who weren't dubious or afraid of something new, and by the time it was embraced by the rest of the world, they were basically experts.

Think back to the first people who used iPhones and iPads . Whether you're an Apple person or not, many of the interfaces used today have been modelled from the exact format and gestures innovated by these products.

The main takeaway from all of this is that exposure to technology helps students to gain a competitive edge in the future. When it comes to remote learning, students are already familiar with things like google sheets , Zoom and Microsoft Teams long before they enter the workplace.

10. Building Skills For The Future

Remote learning helps students to become familiar with technology, but it does also give them life skills that will be necessary for their future.

They don't receive the same sort of treatment that they do when they are in a physical classroom, meaning that the elements of 'holding a student's hand' are often diminished.

Those who criticise this element of remote learning do raise valid points about the need to nurture students in their learning journeys; however, it does somewhat leave them better prepared for the realities of adult life.

11. Learning in a Safe Environment

In most cases, a student who is involved with remote learning will be doing a large majority of their learning from home, which is basically the safest place a student can be.

Even without the threat of a pandemic, learning from home provides a level of safety and security that is unmatched by any other location.

How Mussila Supports Remote Learning

is an award-winning program that was born out of the digital learning revolution and aims to give kids a fulfilling and interactive musical education.

Mussila takes the concept of remote learning and combines it with the important element of play to provide musical instruction that is both enjoyable and entertaining.

The way Mussila works is that it functions like a game. The curriculum is structured around completing tasks as they learn new skills like learning to read musical notes or distinguishing beats and rhythms.

One of the best things about Mussila is that it can be used completely without the need for parental supervision. It's completely kids driven.

It's also a great way to give a child a bit of a taste of musical education without having to make a trip to a music store to buy an instrument that they might decide in two weeks isn't interesting anymore.

With Mussila, kids can get a taste of all the elements involved with formal musical education without the need to play a physical instrument.

There are a few different Mussila educational streams too. There's one for and one for schools and teachers .

Mussila is at the forefront of using the technologies available today to effectively educate the adults of tomorrow, and all they need is an internet connection. If you want to find out more, check out the Mussila app in your preferred app store today - Google Play or the App Store.

Conclusion

The introduction of remote learning doesn't have to mean that society abandons the traditional learning model; after all, it's the same learning model that gave us some of the greatest minds in human history, like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking .

When looking to the future, it's important to embrace technologies and advances that could enhance a learning experience and help students to understand more, retain more and question more. Perhaps in the next century, we will see an even bigger spike in incredible minds.

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The Top 11 Benefits of Remote Learning | Mussila

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By Arctic Meta, For most people, the past couple of years dramatically changed so much when it comes to connectivity and technology. Lockdowns and curfews forced many workers all over the world to move towards remote working or a hybrid model .

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When the coronavirus closed down schools and required distance learning for the rest of the school year, things seemed complicated. Suddenly, parents, students and teachers alike were forced to learn a new way of schooling. Yet despite the initial discomfort, the benefits of distance learning go far beyond protection from the virus.

No Bus or Commute

It's no surprise that during this pandemic, as people are staying home. That includes students learning online. Parents no longer have to gas prices are lower than ever rush to get their children ready for the bus or drive them to schoo l. This is beneficial not only for financial reasons but also for time management. Both teachers and students can use this extra time however they feel is necessary. Whether it's a few more winks of sleep or extra study time, this is definitely a plus of distance learning.

Learn on Your Own Schedule

Students now have the freedom to pick and choose their schedule. They are able to learn at their own pace in a relaxed environment. Students who learn better in the morning after a good night's sleep may choose to tackle their harder subjects right when they wake up. Students who are night owls may prefer to wait until later in the day, once they've fully woken up and are at full mental capacity.

For Some, the Home Environment May Be Less Stressful

Although students may miss extracurricular activities and social relationships from school, many have reported feeling less stressed while schooling from home. Students can study where they feel most comfortable and can videoconference to their classes at the click of a button. While schooling at home, it is also easier to complete other hobbies and housework that otherwise would have been placed on the back burner. By being at home, many students are able to get things done in a safe and relaxing environment.

Distance Learning Teaches Time Management and Other Skills

Time management skills are essential for succeeding in online schooling. These skills are essential in every aspect of life, from maintaining work-life balance to completing projects before due dates. Students who had otherwise busy schedules now have much more time available to them due to the closing of school activities. Distance learning forces a student to understand the best ways they learn and implement those ways at the best times.

Of course, distance learning means that students are spending more time on their computers. This in turn means that there are more chances of them facing online dangers. Just as schools keep student safe on campus, they can also keep students safe when learning at home. Monitoring software like LearnSafe alerts schools to at-risk activity both on- and off-line, assuring student safety no matter where learning takes place.

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What Are the Benefits of Distance Learning? - LearnSafe

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When the coronavirus closed down schools and required distance learning for the rest of the school year, things seemed complicated. Suddenly, parents, students and teachers alike were forced to learn a new way of schooling. Yet despite the initial discomfort, the benefits of distance learning go far beyond protection from the virus.

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Masks in schools: Explaining the debate over face coverings in classrooms