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Comforting children while following CDC guideline

  • 1.  Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-08-2020 11:08 AM
    Hello, 

    We are about to proceed with a gradual opening process next week after 2-month school closure. Those who have been staying open (THANK YOU!) for Infant, Tod, Preschool & PreK children, how have you been comforting children with facial coverings and physical distancing? How have your children reacting and responding to teachers in protective gear? Teachers have been using social stories and talking about what to expect, but would like to know from practitioners who have been working with children throughout this pandemic (KUDOS to you!) how things are going in the classrooms. Thank you.

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    Yoshie
    Denver CO.
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  • 2.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-09-2020 12:28 AM
    Hi, I have been working with 2-5 year olds throughout this time.  Usually I work with 4-5 year olds, but the majority of our families are working from home.  We do not wear face coverings, but wash and wash our hands.  We temp children at the door and parents do not come into the room.  There are discussions about the coronavirus, but more about I miss my friends.

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    Rhianna Boyer
    New Horizon Academy Group
    Plymouth MN
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  • 3.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-09-2020 12:29 AM
    Thank you for asking these important questions - I have a few tips to share from other programs in my area who have recently opened this week, WThF but nothing first hand as I am still closed. The things that stand out are: staggered arrival and pick up (maybe a texting system to help organize the process), 6 ft circles outside to provide a safe space to linger while others are in & out, plenty of PPE supplies, very specific guidelines for families to follow and sign off on plus a significant amount of time for teachers to have a break and remove their masks. Good Luck everyone. I really look forward to hearing more from you.

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    Kim Parker
    Director
    Pumpkin Patch Preschool
    Wilson WY
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  • 4.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline
    Best Answer

    Posted 05-09-2020 09:59 AM
    Hi Yoshie!
    In light of you beginning the opening process I would love to hear about how it goes for you and some situations that may arise. I am sure many of the issues you face, will be some of the issues I face as well. With that being said, as I was researchers your concerns (which are also concerns of mine) I came across this resource that you may find beneficial! https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2020/04/21/are-you-happy-or-sad-how-wearing-face-masks-can-impact-childrens-ability-to-read-emotions/

    I hope this helps. Thank you for your dedication to children and families!

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    Alexis Brown
    Boston University Children's Center
    Stoneham MA
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  • 5.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-09-2020 02:14 PM
    Hello All,

    I, like all of us, have been reading threads on this site, CDC, Maryland's D of E and have followed many threads with great ideas about class size, no circles times, staggered arrivals and departures, one way hall travel, etc. 
    One thing I have not explicitly seen stated is whether there is the assumption that in these small classes of 10 people that children will end up touching.  I am assuming that if we go back to our preschool and have 2 adults and 8 three year olds that though minimized there will be some contact between children.

    Regarding comfort, I would encourage our parents to show their children this video before they start back to school and then model it in the classroom.
    https://youtu.be/Xa_qNH8u3OM
    Abby Cadaby and a Self Hug

    Susan Anderson
    Glenbrook Nursery School
    Bethesda, MD





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    Susan Anderson
    Glenbrook Nursery School, Inc
    Bethesda MD
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  • 6.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-11-2020 11:35 AM
    So, as a Montana referral and resource agency, we had been thinking about the same issue.  We knew that it would be definitely unusual and could be traumatic for some children to see their caregivers wearing masks.   We decided to create two social scripted stories around face masks and why their teachers are  wearing them.   So, two of my co-workers put these together.  I think they are done very well.  The stories can be shared via internet or printed off and laminated and put together.  We made on for toddlers and one for preschool age.  The link to the stories is here:  
           For toddlers to three:  https://cccmontana.org/images/uploads/COVID-19_Masks_Book_Young_Kids-_UPDATED_4.23.20.pdf

           For preschoolers:  https://cccmontana.org/images/uploads/COVID-19_Social_Story_Masks_Older_Kids-_4.23.20_4.pdf

    We have shared these with the Montana Child Care R &R network, as well as Child Care Aware of America.  You are welcome to use these in your programs.  All we ask is that the branding stay intact.  

    Feel free to check out the other resources that we have compiled and put on this COVID-19 landing page of our website.  There are resources here for families, providers and the community, as well as updates about COVID-19 on a sister page.   https://cccmontana.org/covid-19/family-provider-resources .


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    Tamara Christofferson
    New Provider Support Specialist
    Child Care Connections
    Bozeman MT
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  • 7.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-11-2020 12:22 PM
    I love these books! Very well done!
    Anne Dehlin
    STARS Preschool
    Concord, NC

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    Anne Dehlin
    Director
    STARS Preschool
    Concord NC
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  • 8.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-11-2020 12:25 PM
    My co-worked did a very nice job.  They deserve all the credit.

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    Tamara Christofferson
    New Provider Support Specialist
    Child Care Connections
    Bozeman MT
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  • 9.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-11-2020 01:44 PM
    Hi Tamara! 
    Thank you so very much for taking the time to post and share the information! Your staff sure did an excellent work putting things together. Thank you. 
    Yoshie 



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    Yoshie Matsubara
    Boulder CO
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  • 10.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-12-2020 07:07 AM
    These are great books! Any chance I can help translate in Spanish and create a bilingual or Spanish version. I would love to use them in my Spanish Immersion class. Thanks

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    Claudia Robles Arias
    PBS. BilingualKid Language Immersion School
    Mechanicsvlle VA
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  • 11.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-12-2020 11:35 AM
    Actually, I have a co-worker who is fluent in Spanish.  I can ask her if she would have time and we could make them available as well.  Thanks for the suggestion.  We will begin to work on it right away.

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    Tamara Christofferson
    New Provider Support Specialist
    Child Care Connections
    Bozeman MT
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  • 12.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-12-2020 11:36 AM
    Hi Claudia,

    If you get permission and translate these books in to Spanish, I would love a copy to use in our program with our DLL students.  You can email as well at ndesten@bridgescec.org

    Thanks!
    Nicole Desten
    Appleton WI

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    Nicole Desten
    Project Bridges Daycare
    Appleton WI
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  • 13.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-12-2020 11:43 AM
    My co-worker is excited about this.  She will begin to work on them and I will bring the link when we are finished with it.

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    Tamara Christofferson
    New Provider Support Specialist
    Child Care Connections
    Bozeman MT
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  • 14.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-12-2020 12:19 PM
    Awesome!!  Thank you so much for sharing these resources!

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    Nicole Desten
    Project Bridges Daycare
    Appleton WI
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  • 15.  RE: Comforting children while following CDC guideline

    Posted 05-12-2020 12:53 PM
    Awesome! Thanks so much. I'm glad I asked :D

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    Claudia Robles Arias
    PBS. BilingualKid Language Immersion School
    Mechanicsvlle VA
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