Baby and toddler groups

[ColdShouldersWarmTummy]

Wondering what other groups are currently doing, and whether anyone has a link to the official guidelines?

We go to two singalong type groups, one (privately run) has all adults in masks (children can still run around if they like). The other (at the local library) has no masks required. Both are in fairly small spaces with not much ventilation and 10-20 adults all singing.

I'm not very happy about the library group and am considering contacting my local councillor, but it would be good to hear what's happening in other places before I go off on one at him

Thanks

It's not about "feelings", it's about risk of transmission.

Do your own risk assessment and if you don’t like it don’t go. Don’t ruin it for everyone else ffs!

The ones I go to no one wears a mask. They can if they want, but no one does. I assume that like me, they have all decided that for their own circumstances, the benefits outweigh the risks.

If you deem the risk of transmission is high, don't go. It's really that simple

The group is not breaking any current guidelines.

@maryberryslayers do you have any evidence to support your statement? Why would babies and toddlers have speech and communication issues as a result of sometimes seeing people in masks? Children grow up in countries where their primary caregiver - their mother - wears a headdress covering everything but her eyes when she’s out in public and those children still manage to learn how to talk. Given that the vast majority of the time children are at home without people wearing any masks I’m fairly sure that a couple of hours a week at baby groups isn’t going to have a detrimental effect on their communication development.

As others have said, don’t ruin it for everyone else, why would you consider complaining to your councillor?! If you don’t like it, don’t go. None of the toddler groups I go to have masks and I’m glad they don’t (not at all anti mask in other settings)

[quote Newnews]@maryberryslayers do you have any evidence to support your statement? Why would babies and toddlers have speech and communication issues as a result of sometimes seeing people in masks? Children grow up in countries where their primary caregiver - their mother - wears a headdress covering everything but her eyes when she’s out in public and those children still manage to learn how to talk. Given that the vast majority of the time children are at home without people wearing any masks I’m fairly sure that a couple of hours a week at baby groups isn’t going to have a detrimental effect on their communication development.[/quote]
I think this is true in general, but I think given that most singing-centric baby groups are billed specifically as ways of encouraging communication with babies it probably is quite pointless to do them with a mask on. And, probably more importantly, not much fun.

Non of our toddler classes require masks. Quite right too, for one, my DD just pings it off my face. And two, I cannot communicate with my tiny terror properly in a mask. It’s fine in a shop but at a class designed to sing & talk too then, deffo not.

Just don’t go. We all need to make our own risk assessments. Even last Autumn we could take our masks off in baby sensory once sat down.

@ColdShouldersWarmTummy

It's not about "feelings", it's about risk of transmission.

Then don't take the risk and stay away, instead of shitting all over it for everyone else.