Trying to keep a mask on a two-year-old is a challenge on a good day. As such, some daycare centers around the United States have decided not to heed the Centers for Disease Control's warnings that it is imperative for anyone over the age of two in a childcare setting to wear a mask. Instead, because they "see no point" in masks some daycares are not requiring the children they care for to wear them at all.
On March 12, the Centers for Disease Control updated their guidance for those who are in a childcare setting. One of those updates was that for anyone two-years-old and older, a mask should be worn at all times to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
However, citing that it is "too stressful" to try to keep a mask on toddlers, Jennifer Freeman of The Discovery Tree Academy told The Morning Show that children in her facility's care would not be wearing masks.
The Florida daycare owner stated, "I know the best way to educate children is for them to smile and talk to each other, to have fun and not be stressed about putting a mask over their face - at least not in a childcare setting."
Because of this, unless children in her care become sick, Freeman will continue to run a mask-free facility for them.
Another Florida daycare feels the same.
Episcopal Children’s Services does not require those in their care to wear masks. According to Temple DePlato, this is because her center has had "very little exposure," per News4JAX.
Both centers did state that they require the employees of the daycares to wear masks at all times and temperatures were taken of everyone upon entry to the facilities for the day.
Florida is not the only state that is against young children wearing masks, despite the CDC's recommendations. some childcare providers out of Texas feels the same way.
The Head Start program out of San Angelo does not require children who are a part of Head Start to wear a mask because it is too hard to "build that rapport with that facial recognition with them," according to Carolina Raymond.
The Head Start director of the Concho Valley Council of Governments went on to tell Fox West Texas that their centers too require all teachers to wear masks and practice safe social distancing at all times.
Until the CDC makes it a requirement for all people ages two years and older to wear a mask, daycare centers like these three will continue to allow the children in their care to not wear a mask. For these particular facilities, it was all age groups in their care that did not have to wear masks not just two-year-olds.
Hopefully, these centers and those who operate like them will continue to have low exposure to COVID so that a lack of mask will not equate to a large outbreak for the children whose care they are charged with.
Source: News4JAX, Fox West Texas, Centers for Disease Control