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Original poster

Masks for kids

308 replies

bingowingsmcgee · 23/02/2021 19:40

Is it masks all day then for secondary kids? Can't they just offer all the staff the vaccine and then crack on? Pretty horrible for the kids.

OP posts:
AfternoonToffee · 23/02/2021 22:16

At the end of the day it is irrelevant how I feel about them as a parent as I won't be the one in the classroom wearing them - dd (14 almost 15) simply shrugged and said "well if I have to, I have to." so as long as she is ok that is all that matters.

DS (asd) won't be though.

Howshouldibehave · 23/02/2021 22:20

We cant though, legally, unless they are de-registered. Surely testing should be enough

The testing is extremely inaccurate, so no, it would be nowhere near enough. Which is why masks need to be worn.

You can legally deregister and home school-of course you can. It’s entirely your choice to do so.

Nerdygirl · 23/02/2021 22:21

Mental health issues have increased in kids , there has been numerous reports involving increases in mental health issues such as severe anxiety, ocd and tics. So saying where are the issues and my kids are fine does not represent a large number who are not .

The vulnerable are vaccinated and the majority will be ok if they catch covid. We need to take a balanced approach and I feel like children’s well being because of family poverty, mental health and education has been largely downplayed

Mcmole · 23/02/2021 22:22

@MrsHerculePoirot

I feel so sorry for the kids who have to wear glasses to school - they will be struggling and it will definitely feel like a big deal to them!

I wear glasses. Many HCPs wear glasses. Many children in other countries wear glasses. Some children in my classes who wear glasses wore masks in my lessons. All without issue....

Again can anyone explain why it is only UK children that can’t do this?

I would really like your tips how they can do it without them fogging up as the only thing I've found that works is sticking masks down with tape and that is sore to remove after a period of time as long as a school day! Surely this would put them at a disadvantage in exams or in classes where they need to read what's on the board?
Wildswim · 23/02/2021 22:23

There is no robust evidence that masks work.

And sorry but it's no argument to say that because kids in other countries are wearing masks, our kids should too.

Poor kids. So unfair on them. They've been through enough. Enough is enough.

MrsHerculePoirot · 23/02/2021 22:24

@Malteser71

Tell me, is it mandatory?

And what are the consequences if they don’t.

I don’t the guidance has been updated fully yet. My understanding is it will be mandatory similar to supermarkets etc. I read somewhere that schools could issue fines although that sounds quite extreme. I suspect we will treat initially as any other uniform issue, but will be within our rights not to have to allow students into our classrooms who refuse to wear one who aren’t exempt. I don’t know how that will work in practice yet. I believe guidance is due out later this week which hopefully will clarify the position.
Howshouldibehave · 23/02/2021 22:25

@Wildswim

There is no robust evidence that masks work.

And sorry but it's no argument to say that because kids in other countries are wearing masks, our kids should too.

Poor kids. So unfair on them. They've been through enough. Enough is enough.

You don’t have to send them to school-you can deregister and home-school if you feel that strongly about mask wearing.

My kids are fine with it and will be pleased to get back to school.

Wildswim · 23/02/2021 22:29

Or I can tell the school they're not wearing them. Yes, I feel that strongly.

MrsHerculePoirot · 23/02/2021 22:30

@Mcmole wash in soapy water and leave to dry. Wear a mask that is correctly and tightly fitting (others recommend ones with the metal bits over the nose, but I don’t use those). Put your glasses over the top of the fabric of the mask.

Mine only steam when I am physically exerting myself (eg running between classrooms) or if I go from somewhere cold to hot (which happens anyway without masks). Sitting still never causes a fog. I’d also say make sure your glasses are tight so they don’t slip down when over your mask.

Honestly quite a few of our students wore them, especially at the end of the Autumn term when numbers were crazily rising. It wasn’t a problem. I just wipe mine if needed and pop back on, of pull away fir a few seconds just to clear and then they’re usually ok once my breathing is normal again after running!

MrsHerculePoirot · 23/02/2021 22:32

There is no robust evidence that masks work.

There is no robust evidence that they DON’T work. Or is every single other country all just ignoring this in some kind of weird conspiracy theory....

Howshouldibehave · 23/02/2021 22:32

@Wildswim

Or I can tell the school they're not wearing them. Yes, I feel that strongly.
Are they exempt?
palacegirl77 · 23/02/2021 22:40

@MrsHerculePoirot

😂😂😂 at ‘sluggish’

Some of our students choose to wear them all the time before Christmas. I can assure you it didn’t make them sluggish.

For the record I can also set your mind at rest about behaviour too. I’m able to manage behaviour effectively even when students are wearing masks.

I find it so weird that people think children in the UK are some sort of special breed that can’t cope with masks, unlike children in very many other countries. I suppose at least it gives Twats4Themselves something to froth about in a hysterical manner....

Reread it love. Sluggish referred to their immune systems. Thats worrying!
palacegirl77 · 23/02/2021 22:42

@Howshouldibehave

We cant though, legally, unless they are de-registered. Surely testing should be enough

The testing is extremely inaccurate, so no, it would be nowhere near enough. Which is why masks need to be worn.

You can legally deregister and home school-of course you can. It’s entirely your choice to do so.

and the evidence to say theyll work is.... where exactly??? why arent the keyworker kids wearing them right now?
palacegirl77 · 23/02/2021 22:42

@Nerdygirl

Mental health issues have increased in kids , there has been numerous reports involving increases in mental health issues such as severe anxiety, ocd and tics. So saying where are the issues and my kids are fine does not represent a large number who are not .

The vulnerable are vaccinated and the majority will be ok if they catch covid. We need to take a balanced approach and I feel like children’s well being because of family poverty, mental health and education has been largely downplayed

Completely agree
palacegirl77 · 23/02/2021 22:43

@MrsHerculePoirot

There is no robust evidence that masks work.

There is no robust evidence that they DON’T work. Or is every single other country all just ignoring this in some kind of weird conspiracy theory....

So why did our chief medical officer and deputy stand there and say they were ineffective? why?
palacegirl77 · 23/02/2021 22:44

@Wildswim

There is no robust evidence that masks work.

And sorry but it's no argument to say that because kids in other countries are wearing masks, our kids should too.

Poor kids. So unfair on them. They've been through enough. Enough is enough.

So right. The "but but other countries are" argument is nonsense. Some countries put citizens under house arrest for months. Do we want to emulate them?
MrsHerculePoirot · 23/02/2021 22:48

@palacegirl77 Reread it love. Sluggish referred to their immune systems. Thats worrying!

Well seeing as that myth has been fully debunked repeatedly (feel free to check using any of the fact checking sites) since last year I must have assumed you thought the kids were sluggish. Either way you were talking rubbish so 🤷‍♀️

Stickytreacle · 23/02/2021 22:54

I thought that was evidence proving that masks did prevent transmission, hence the turnaround. There are plenty of scientists and experts who recommend them. Can't see the issue myself, if a mask is going to severely traumatise a normal, healthy child, then I think there must be something very wrong with their mental health, or parental influence.

MrsHerculePoirot · 23/02/2021 22:57

Erm @palacegirl77 I think you’re a little confused. Didn’t they say last year that they didn’t stop transmission gully but massively reduce it? And in January this year (so as more and more evidence and knowledge about the virus is now known) they have said we SHOULD be wearing them? I’m not sure where you are getting them saying they shouldn’t be worn from? Feel free to reference a link or something to where they’ve said that to set me straight....

The other countries comments have been directed to posters still repeatedly peddling the myth that kids can’t cope with masks. Which clearly they can... as evidenced by many other places.. I don’t think anyone has said this is the reason to wear them, we all know the reason is to reduce transmission in crowded places.

SunshiningBetty · 23/02/2021 23:04

Vulnerable people who were scared to send their child to school in case they brought Covid home were told to fuck off and deregister Confused Maybe it’s time for parents of snowflakes who don’t want to wear a mask to now do the same.

user1477391263 · 23/02/2021 23:16

Hard of hearing kids can use workarounds, like teachers ensuring things are written up on a board/powerpoint and giving out printouts of material covered in lessons, or telling students which page of the textbook to refer to. No, it's not perfect, but it's not much different to the remote learning that kids at the moment are all stuck doing anyway, and the great majority of kids do not have hearing difficulties.

The COVID classroom setup (kids at separate desks and all facing the front) makes things easier for kids with hearing difficulties, by the way. I speak as someone who has hearing loss myself. Having all kids sitting facing the front is much better for kids who struggle with hearing, because front-facing, separate desks means a lot less chit chat, disruption and background noise, and all kids can see the board clearly, where teachers can write directions. The UK's usual habit of having kids clustered around tables, chatting away, and half the kids unable to see the board except when they twist round in their seats, is really bad for hearing impaired kids.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 23/02/2021 23:27

@Nerdygirl

Mental health issues have increased in kids , there has been numerous reports involving increases in mental health issues such as severe anxiety, ocd and tics. So saying where are the issues and my kids are fine does not represent a large number who are not .

The vulnerable are vaccinated and the majority will be ok if they catch covid. We need to take a balanced approach and I feel like children’s well being because of family poverty, mental health and education has been largely downplayed

No they aren't. As the vaccines minister pointed out yesterday, the groups most likely to be hospitalised of die from covid won't be vaccinated until the middle of April and they'll need 3 weeks after that to develop immunity. which is the 1st week of May.
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 23/02/2021 23:28

So why did our chief medical officer and deputy stand there and say they were ineffective? why?

When was this?

ineedaholidaynow · 23/02/2021 23:31

Did have a wry smile when this was announced wondering how UsForThem would seriously combust when they heard this news.

Most children will be fine wearing them, and those who aren't will be exempt. I am sure the children are much more sensible than some of the hysterical parents.

No it won't be pleasant, but they will have regular breaks when they can remove them, and then replace with a clean one, so they won't be wearing them for 6 hours straight.

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