Details:

Corporate Authors:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (U.S.). Division of Viral Diseases.
Description:
Updated July 23, 2020

As families and policymakers make decisions about their children returning to school, it is important to consider the full spectrum of benefits and risks of both in-person and virtual learning options. Parents are understandably concerned about the safety of their children at school in the wake of COVID-19. The best available evidence indicates if children become infected, they are far less likely to suffer severe symptoms. Death rates among school-aged children are much lower than among adults. At the same time, the harms attributed to closed schools on the social, emotional, and behavioral health, economic well-being, and academic achievement of children, in both the short- and long-term, are well-known and significant. Further, the lack of in-person educational options disproportionately harms low-income and minority children and those living with disabilities. These students are far less likely to have access to private instruction and care and far more likely to rely on key school-supported resources like food programs, special education services, counseling, and after-school programs to meet basic developmental needs.

Aside from a child’s home, no other setting has more influence on a child’s health and well-being than their school. The in-person school environment does the following:

• provides educational instruction;

• supports the development of social and emotional skills;

• creates a safe environment for learning;

• addresses nutritional needs; and

• facilitates physical activity.

This paper discusses each of these critical functions, following a brief summary of current studies regarding COVID-19 and children.


Content Notes:
COVID-19 and Children -- Educational Instruction -- Social and Emotional Skill Development -- Safety -- Nutrition -- Physical Activity -- Conclusion -- References.
Document Type:
Webpage
Name as Subject:
Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control ; School Health Services ; Schools ; ... More +
Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control ; School Health Services ; Schools ; Students Less -
Place as Subject:
United States
Collection(s):
Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:385afa9c375f979f5619c50e377ee8779a44868c8284b69d3d127dba9c081136
Download URL:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/90951/cdc_90951_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• reopening-schools.html

  htm

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