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Original poster

Just been emailed by school - kids to wear masks for drop off

69 replies

IsoscelesSandwich · 01/09/2020 15:44

just received an email from son's primary school asking that kids wear masks for drop off at school. What is the point of this!? I can understand for adults, but why kids? We're all outdoors, tiny village school so no big groups anyway, all drop offs are staggered by year group. Seems just a bit tokenistic and would be the first time my 5 year old would have to wear one. Is it pointless!?

OP posts:
FinnyStory · 01/09/2020 17:18

If we believe clean hands is important, then small children handling dirty masks has got to be bad news? Who's going to make sure that hands are cleaned and the masks are stored correctly?

I think these are valid questions to ask he school.

minnieok · 01/09/2020 17:19

The reality is that if masks really work (not sure personally but let's assume they make a difference) then everybody should where one in public, whether aged 5 or 95. If you really cannot wear one then arrangements should be made for you to avoid busy spaces. An 8 year old can pass on covid as easily as a 14 year old. And just because you have asthma, ptsd etc doesn't stop you from passing it on to others, masks protect others. Personally I'm not convinced to help anyone but as I say let's assume they work. Babies and toddlers don't understand but from 3-4 there's no reason kids can't learn to wear one, they are in other countries

MarshaBradyo · 01/09/2020 17:21

Bit odd it’s not the adults instead

Original poster
IsoscelesSandwich · 01/09/2020 17:38

@Cheeseandwin5 - "We need to trust the doctors and scientists and follow their lead." that's my point, primary age children wearing masks is not recommended by doctors and scientists. It seems to solely be being asked by my sons' small village primary school.

OP posts:
OhCaptain · 01/09/2020 17:39

Does it matter? Seriously. It won’t harm him. Let him wear it and just get on with it.

FallonsTeaRoom · 01/09/2020 17:43

Can just imagine this!

Just been emailed by school - kids to wear masks for drop off
BogRollBOGOF · 01/09/2020 17:49

It is absolutely pointless at best and more harmful at worst (handling bacteria/ virus ridden materials unhygienically- not necessarily Covid).

It's an outside space. It's not crowded. There is no prolonged contact. There is no combination of factor that is a high risk of transmission, and it's the lazy overzealous being seen to do something for the sake of it attitude that gives health and safety a bad name and undermines legitimate measures.

At pick up time it is a child protection issue if children and staff can't recognise parents and children are mistakenly released to the wrong masked person.

Greysparkles · 01/09/2020 17:52

It's possible that there is a very vulnerable child or adult and it's for their protection

Who are only at risk at drop off and pick up time??

FlySheMust · 01/09/2020 17:54

@Greysparkles

It's possible that there is a very vulnerable child or adult and it's for their protection

Who are only at risk at drop off and pick up time??

Mingling with the entire school population. There could be special arrangements in the classroom.
Greysparkles · 01/09/2020 18:01

Yes, maybe they've had a separate class built just for that child, they have separate lunch and breaks times alone..... Or that's just not what's going on here at all.

FlySheMust · 01/09/2020 18:05

@Greysparkles

Yes, maybe they've had a separate class built just for that child, they have separate lunch and breaks times alone..... Or that's just not what's going on here at all.
No need for sarcasm. What's the matter with you? It's a discussion.
BarbedBloom · 01/09/2020 18:07

I have no issue with children wearing masks. I lived in Korea and even toddlers wore them all day without complaint. It was just part of life. In this case I assume it is to protect children from other bubbles

ILoveFood87 · 01/09/2020 18:09

It's not pointless no. How have some people not got masks for their kids my 5 year old nephew wears one have some people not even tried?! Shit parenting.com

rorosemary · 01/09/2020 18:17

Is everyone going to fight every single decision that schools make now that they are open to everyone? How is that helpful during this pandemic? If you don't agree why not keep your children at home instead of using up a lot of the schools time debating everything during these uncertain times,

Original poster
IsoscelesSandwich · 01/09/2020 18:23

@rorosemary I haven't used any of the school's time, I haven't responded to their email about this.
@ILoveFood87 "shitparenting.com" is just mean. The vast majority of children under 11, inline with government advice, is that they don't need to wear masks. You're in fantastic parenting league all of your own, clearly.

OP posts:
Debradoyourecall · 01/09/2020 18:47

My four year old has had to wear one for hospital appointments this year but I would be surprised if his school asked him to wear one. You can get some fun reusable ones with superheroes/TV characters from Etsy.

nothingcomestonothing · 01/09/2020 18:55

It is absolutely pointless at best and more harmful at worst (handling bacteria/ virus ridden materials unhygienically- not necessarily Covid)....It's the lazy overzealous being seen to do something for the sake of it attitude that gives health and safety a bad name and undermines legitimate measures.

THIS!!!! This, all day long. Why are people not able to consider that something is not automatically better than nothing? Little kids do NOT need to wear masks and them doing so is more likely to lead to harm than good.

All these people smugly proclaiming that their tiny kids wear masks and why wouldn't you, you do realise that them doing so helps nothing? I'm guessing you're the same people who I see day in, day out with masks on heads/chins/under noses/ inside out/ taken out of pockets and the bottom of handbags and put on with unsanitised hands then taken off again to talk/ answer the phone.

Anything other than proper donning and doffing, I.e. perform hand hygeine - put on mask covering nose, mouth and chin and closely fitting at the sides and over the nose - do not touch again until - perform hand hygeine, lean forward with closed eyes and remove mask touching only the strings - dispose - perform hand hygeine again - is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard. Are these kids going to be doing this? Of course not, so it's pointless posturing for the school to be seen to be doing something.

OP FWIW, it's not a bad hill to die on.

NailsNeedDoing · 01/09/2020 19:00

@rorosemary

Is everyone going to fight every single decision that schools make now that they are open to everyone? How is that helpful during this pandemic? If you don't agree why not keep your children at home instead of using up a lot of the schools time debating everything during these uncertain times,
If a school wants to make up rules that go against the government medical advice, then they should expect to have to allocate some time and resources to dealing with the inevitable questions.
PickACoolUserName · 01/09/2020 19:05

It's pointless. In one study in Asia where around 1200 cases were contact traced they found just one infection that occurred outdoors when two people stood closely talking for a significant period of time.

The reason why we didn't see big spikes after BLM, VE day, beach gatherings etc is because this virus does not spread well outdoors.

So the idea that the kids will somehow be safer wearing a mask outdoors, when they are going to take them off inside and spend several hours in a cramped room with 30 others is frankly ludicrous.

I genuinely worry about the scientific literacy level in our country.

Whyongtime · 01/09/2020 19:25

@rorosemary
"Is everyone going to fight every single decision that schools make now that they are open to everyone? How is that helpful during this pandemic? If you don't agree why not keep your children at home instead of using up a lot of the schools time debating everything during these uncertain times"

What a silly reply. This school has just made this rule up, why shouldn't they be challenged.

Hopeisnotastrategy · 01/09/2020 19:27

Just get on with it and stop being awkward. Do you seriously think school have time to deal with all the parents raising every little nit-picking issue they are not happy with at the minute? Try being supportive and positive in your attitude with your child, if you are being bolshy they will pick up on that. Set a good example for them.

clarepetal · 01/09/2020 19:35

Wow, glad this hasn't happened to us, my son is starting year 1 and I do not want him to wear a mask, I'd feel so awkward if we were told this.

Whyongtime · 01/09/2020 19:37

I wouldn't even reply to school. I would just take my child without a mask on. This School have made this rule up.

nettytree · 01/09/2020 19:57

My sons secondary school is going to supply 5 washable masks for the pupils to wear. This is in Wales.

DameFanny · 01/09/2020 19:58

Oh for the fucking sake of fucking Christ

It is not necessary to use the same level of hygiene with a face covering as with a surgical mask, which is what since posters are saying. That's just fuckwitted.

The face covering is to prevent transmission to others.

For your own safety, yes, wear a clean mask, change it when it gets damp, wash it properly.

But a clean mask isn't going to make you sick FFS.

It's like underwear - you don't go saying 'oh no, it's holding the poo particles next to my skin how unhygienic'

Get some reusable masks - cotton is most comfortable. Wash after every use, teach your kids basic hygiene as you'd teach them to wash their hands and don't listen to the 'masks make you ill also they're muzzles' nutters.