Tips For Keeping Kids Safe As School Resumes

Here are the best masks for kids, other ways to make their class time safer, and what to do in case of symptoms or exposure [View this email online]( [Best of NPR]( by Christopher Dean Hopkins Millions of kids have been heading back to in-person school, even as the delta variant surges across the country. That's already resulting in shutdowns, quarantines and breakthrough infections — particularly among younger children, [who likely won't be able to get vaccinated until the end of the year](. Here are some tips for what you can do to protect kids from the coronavirus, what to do if you think they've been exposed, and how to handle the pandemic's other effects on them. [First-graders listen to the interim superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Megan Reilly, read a book at Normont Elementary School in Harbor City on Aug. 16, the first day of school.]( Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group via Getty Images For kids who can't get vaccinated yet, the best line of defense will fit snugly on their face. [These suggestions will help you pick good masks for your children]( including sticking to over-the-ear designs and making sure to pack extras. For schools where mask use isn't universal, consider asking your child's teacher to follow this one's lead and [move more class time outside](. Or keep the indoor air clean and filtered [by building one of these surprisingly cheap and effective DIY air purifiers](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [An Israeli child undergoes an antigen test in order to visit the LEGO Space Park exhibition in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv on August 19, 2021]( Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images If (when?) you child does show symptoms of being sick or have a potential coronavirus exposure, there are some important steps to take. Keep them home, and check with your pediatrician on whether you should take them to get tested. If they test positive, think about how you can limit the chance of transmission to other family members. That said, hugs are still okay for little ones. [See the full advice of public health experts](. [Breaking free of the blues]( Kaz Fantone/NPR The pandemic has really amped up stress, for kids as well as grownups. [Schools are anticipating a wave of mental health needs]( as students return, and the Biden administration is [dedicating extra government funding to tackle the problem](. But on the home front, Life Kit has suggestions from child psychologists on [how to help your kids cope with and reframe their anxiety](. The Life Kit podcast is also a great source of other guidance on children's wellness, [including reining in their screen time]( [tackling their toughest questions]( and [making sure they get enough sleep](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. --------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]