Resources from a Psychologist

Parents are facing one of the most challenging choices of their lives – their children’s return to school for academic year 2020-2021.

Perhaps the decision for you and your family is clear cut: fueled by economic realities, employment demands and few doubts.

Perhaps the decision for you and your family is complicated: children of varying ages, abilities, anxieties and adaptability as well as health risk factors.

Let’s take a look at what we know and what we don’t know for sure.

What’s with all the names?

The new coronavirus (CoV) is causing our current dilemma. Coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections; for example, one type of virus causes the common cold. 

• Since 2002, there have been 3 more serious coronaviruses identified.
• Many of these viruses previously only infected animals, but a few became capable of infecting humans:
  • SARS-CoV, the cause of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), was the first coronavirus capable of infecting humans. No transmission of SARS-CoV has been known to occur since 2004. 
  • The next coronavirus to “jump” from animals to humans was MERS-CoV in 2004.
  • In December 2019 COVID-19 became the third coronavirus (also referred to as SARS-CoV2) to infect humans.
• A coronavirus infection may result in a range of results – from a person having few or no symptoms with a mild illness (e.g. common cold) to a severe infection with serious disease including organ failure or death.  MERS, SARS and COVID-19 all can be potentially fatal.
• Currently we see that the results of COVID-19 infection can range from no symptoms, mild symptoms, serious illness requiring intensive care with or without needing a ventilator, and for some, is fatal.

Coronavirus and Re-opening Schools

On July 10, 2020, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA) and AASA, The School Superintendents Association, issued a statement endorsing the safe return of students, teachers, and staff to schools.

• “Returning to school is important for the healthy development and well-being of children, but we must pursue re-opening in a way that is safe for all students, teachers and staff.”
• “Science should drive decision-making on safely reopening schools.”
• “The pandemic has reminded so many what we have long understood: that educators are invaluable in children’s lives and that attending school in person offers children a wide array of health and educational benefits.”

While these statements are all true, they do not provide definitive guidance.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer a decision tree to assist school districts (and parents) in determining if and when a safe return to school is possible.

• Key components include:
  • Local infection rates
  • State and local orders
  • Plans to protect high risk individual children and adult
  • Daily screening capacity
  • Masks
  • Cleaning
  • Hand washing
  • Social distancing
  • Case tracking

To view the complete decision tree see CDC.gov

Important Current Unknowns

1. The actual prevalence of coronavirus infection and COVID-19 in children is unknown.
   • We do know that children with the COVID-19 usually have few or no symptoms, and while they seldom develop the serious illness, some children have died.
   • We also know that because children do not develop serious illness, children are seldom tested to confirm a diagnosis of coronavirus infection, even when a child has symptoms.
   • “Most children have not been tested for coronavirus unless they develop COVID-19 symptoms or live with an adult who has tested positive for COVID-19, so we don’t really know how common the virus is in children.” See more at MayoClinic.org
   • “Testing for COVID-19 is not necessary for children who have no symptoms and no         known contact with someone who has tested positive,” says Dr. Patrick. And most         children who get COVID-19 will be able to recover at home and will not need any       testing, adds Dr. Geevarghese. “Oftentimes, your pediatrician may be able to have a telemedicine visit with you and your child and can help decide.” See more at Parents.org.
2. Children who have coronavirus infection may be asymptomatic and may infect other vulnerable people who could then develop COVID-19.
   • The CDC maintains there is no evidence that children spread the coronavirus.
   • At the same time, there is no proof that children do not spread the virus because, again, to date, children are not being tested or contact traced.  This leads to the concern that a child could potentially transmit SARS-CoV2 to an elderly grandparent or a parent or sibling with a chronic disease and the parent, sibling, or grandparent who could develop severe COVID-19 illness or possibly die.
   • See more at cnbc.com
3. With COVID-19 infections, there is no way to predict what severity of illness a person will have, but older adults and those with underlying medical conditions have a greater chance of serious illness. See more at cdc.org.
   • And risk of severe illness related to COVID-19 increases with age. See more at cdc.org.

Managing the coming months

These uncertainties leave parents filled with speculation, fear, opinion, and peer pressure regarding their children’s return to school. Social media posts and anecdotal reports may offer parents information and, hopefully, reassurance. But such sources can also increase feelings of doubt, second-guessing and isolation.

Shoring up your personal resources for coping

Sources of Information:

    Keeping children healthy

            Promote prevention, activity, and social connection while socially distancing.

For more information see cdc.gov

For more information see coronavirus.in.gov

Helping your child cope with stress

            Parents can find more information about supporting their children during a COVID-19 outbreak on CDC’s Helping Children Cope page.

            Talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.

            Learn more about common reactions that children may have and how you can help children cope with emergencies.

Support for parents

1. Mental Health Considerations During the COVID-19 Outbreak
2. Consider watching webinars by Earl Turner, Ph.D., President of APA Division 37
3. Seek professional assistance as needed. BeWellIndiana.org offers free mental health resources for Indiana residents. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may be a benefit offered by your employer.
4. Parenting children with chronic disease during COVID-19 poses special challenges.

As a community, we shall face the uncertainties of the future days. As individuals, we will seek wisdom and calm in the choices to be made. And as persons of faith, we will endure for

Instead of focusing on the fact that the future is uncertain, (we) focus on the One who will guide your way. See more at faithwire.com. 

Sandra Burkhardt, Ph.D., ABPP

CRG/Children’s Resource Group

A special thanks to Mary Jeanne Burger, MD for her medical expertise and resource contributions.