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Kids, School and COVID-19:
Returning to School and Sports

As schools prepare to welcome students back to class and sports, parents may have many questions about how to reintroduce their child back to school safely. Valley Children’s Primary Care Group has developed this page as a resource for parents looking to learn more about how to safely transition back to school learning and school sports.

If you have specific questions about your area’s status for returning to school or sports, check with you local health department for additional guidelines based upon your county’s tier. 
 

Now more than ever, it’s important for your child to be up-to-date on their immunizations, including the flu vaccine. Staying current on vaccinations means that your child will be protected from vaccine-preventable conditions.

In addition to staying current on vaccinations, children can help protect themselves, each other, their teachers and families by continuing to practice healthy habits to reduce the spread of germs, including:

  • Wearing a mask
  • Washing their hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer
  • Staying physically distanced from others whenever possible
  • Staying home when they feel sick or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19

Students with disabilities have been disproportionately affected by school closures due to COVID-19, as closures may have interrupted school-based support services. If your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), work with your school before sending your child back to campus to make updates to account for additional safety considerations while learning in-person.

It’s important to understand that although students may be returning to the classroom, school may look different than it did before the pandemic for some time yet. Encourage your child by letting them know that the more we all do our part to slow the spread, the sooner we can return to school as usual.
 

In addition to returning to the classroom, many students are returning to playing team sports. Participating in sports has many benefits for children and teens, including physical health, mental health and social development. However, teams that gather for practices or competitions should keep in mind that group gatherings increase the risk of exposure to viruses like COVID-19, and they should remember to:

  • Visit their pediatrician for a sports physical to ensure they are healthy to return to play
  • Wash their hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before, during and after participating
  • Refrain from sharing equipment, beverages or snacks
  • Avoid touching their face or eyes with unwashed hands
  • Stay physically distanced whenever possible
  • Avoid group transportation to and from practices and competitions
  • Wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth and fits snugly against their face
    • This is especially important if your child participates in an indoor activity. However, for some sports, wearing a mask may pose a risk like getting wet or caught/tangled. These sports may have athletes remove their mask only while performing their sporting activity.
  • Avoid high fives, fist pounds or chest bumps

Children should not attend or participate in group/team sports, competitions or practice if they:

  • Feel sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, such a fever of 100.4 or more, cough or difficulty breathing
  • Have been exposed to COVID-19 in the last 14 days (contact their doctor for quarantine guidance)

Anyone present at a practice or competition should wear a mask, including referees, trainers, parents and coaches. As parents, model all safety practices and get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible to help stop the spread so that our kids can get back to being kids.

For more information about safely returning to school sports, and for guidance on permitted sports by county tier, visit the California Department of Public Health website.

A Note about Sports Physicals and COVID-19

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children who test positive for COVID-19 should get a doctor’s approval before returning to exercise, need a minimum of 10 days for rest and may require 3 to 6 months if they were diagnosed with MIS-C.

Before returning to activity, children should be screened for symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, or fainting. These symptoms may mean that a child is experiencing lingering effects of a COVID-19 infection.

The ongoing stress, change and isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for children and adults alike, but children and teens may have an especially hard time coping. The pandemic has meant time away from friends and social activities, along with adapting to distance learning.

Talk with your child regularly about how they are feeling. Creating a safe space for clear and honest communication can help your child open up about their feelings. If they express deep sadness or depression, anxiety, anger, or hopelessness, it may be time to reach out for professional help. It is important to understand that every child expresses themselves differently, and it may vary by age as well. For example, a child may not have the ability to express with words how they are feeling, so they may show anger, frustration, or depression through their behavior. Teens may be able to talk about how they feel, but may avoid talking about it directly because it may be uncomfortable for them or may cause feelings of guilt. Consider going on a walk or doing an activity together to open up a line of communication without having a face-to-face, direct conversation about mental health.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s mental health, talk to your pediatrician. They can screen your child for conditions like depression, anxiety, or coping disorders and can advise you on the best way to help.

Suicide Risk in Children and Teens

If you feel your child is at risk of suicide, seek help immediately by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or texting the Crisis Text Line by texting “TALK” to 741741. If your child is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

Find more mental health resources in your community here.

As parents, we can play a major role in helping our kids return to school and team sports.

  • Model the way. You are your child’s first and best teacher, so model behaviors you want them to follow. Wear a mask. Wash your hands. Stay physically distanced from others outside of your home. Be kind. Explain to your child that wearing a mask protects them, but also their classmates and teammates.
  • Ensure your child visits their pediatrician for vaccines and well child visits. Their pediatrician can help care for both their physical and mental health.
  • Help your child find a facemask that fits them well and securely covers their nose and mouth.
  • Regularly clean and sanitize masks, sports equipment, book bags, and other items that travel to and from school and practice.
  • Create a safe space for your child to talk about their feelings, and be willing to reach out for professional help if needed.