As centers across the world have been reopening during the pandemic, there have been many questions around how to social distance within the classroom and re-introducing children back to the routine of childcare.
Ideally, you want to follow the requirements that your government has set out. Do your homework and make sure you know what these requirements are and that it is possible for your teachers and children to start returning to childcare safely.
Many centers are doing a “slow” or “soft” opening. Some centers are still open and have been helping with essential service families and some have been closed for a while.
Visit the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention’s website for guidance & resources for child care programs that remain open or are reopening
Here are some tips on ways to social distance within the classroom based on our conversations with the HiMama community:
Work With Reduced Ratios
Working with fewer children in the classroom will help ease any anxiety as the children re-enter daycare and also help create a control group. This way the children, teachers and families are safer while returning.
This may need to come in the form of hiring more staff or temporarily de-enrolling some children. It is hard to pick and choose families to welcome back, but with limiting the number of children coming and going, it will help contain any outbreaks from recurring.
Same Group of Children and Teachers Every Day
The idea here is to restrict the amount of people crossing paths with one another because each additional person is another chance for exposure to COVID-19. Carefully assign your classrooms and keep the teacher and child assignments consistent as much as possible.
Alter or Halt Daily Group Activities
Within the classroom, it is best to limit the contact that the children are having in large groups. Plan activities that the children can stay spread out and do on their own for the time being. Check these examples of social distancing activities for preschool.
Stagger Playground Times
Limit the number of groups outside on the playground at one time so there are less people crossing paths.
Move Cots & Cribs 6 Feet Apart (If Possible)
With having a limited number of children in the classroom at this time, spreading out their cots at nap time to allow for more personal space.
Only Children and Staff Allowed Inside
Have parents sign their kiddos in and out at the entrance to your facilities without actually coming inside. This is much different than what they’re used to, so sending parents a picture once their child is inside and settled can help to reassure any anxiety with this process.
Stagger Arrival and Pick-Up Times
Give parents specific time windows so you do not have too many families coming at once. If the timing does overlap, ensure that everyone stays at least 6 feet apart.
Take Temperatures Upon Arrival
Verify that no child has a fever when they arrive at your center for some extra reassurance that no one is bringing any illness into your facility.
Cancel or Postpone Any Planned Events
Wait to have any gatherings until it has been deemed safe to do so.
Wear Masks (When Age-Appropriate)
Safety of the children, teachers and families is on the top of everyone’s list so make sure to not place any face masks over babies faces or children under the age of two as the suffocation risk increases dramatically. If you are a center that is wearing masks and having the older children wear them, take the time to make sure that everyone is wearing it correctly. And of course, wash your hands every step of the way!
Set Up Social Distancing Pods
Having a smaller number of children in the classroom allows for creativity with how to set up and maintain social distancing while still allowing for conversation and interaction with peers. Depending on the size of your class, the age of the children, and the number of children you have, you can separate the classroom into “pods” for each child. Think of these like mini apartments for each child where they have all of the supplies they’ll need.
You can lay painter’s tape down on the floor and have the children help you name their special area. Within each pod, try to give each child the same amount of toys and creative supplies. An example list could be: several books, paper, crayons, trucks, blocks, personal sensory bin, animals, and access to a table. You want to set the furniture up so friends can see each other but are intrigued to stay in their area. Using a child-size bookshelf or storage unit to separate two pods while allowing the children to still sit and chat with each other at a table while playing is ideal.
The hardest part of the pods will be keeping the children in them, but if you help them create a personal space while encouraging conversation from afar the children will catch on. Modeling this will be key and reinforcing that their pod is their space and because of this they need to stay in their space in a positive way will help create a good experience for the children. As the children get used to the new playing set up, teachers will have to encourage open play and keep the children busy.
Here’s a great example of how to reinforce social distancing in your classroom from the wonderful educators at Educare Children’s Centre
The Walk o Fame to mark spots clearly 
Spaced out individual tables
How Parents Can Help
As children return to the classroom, there will be lots of anxiety and scared feelings. Work with your families to help ensure that this is an easy transition. If possible, have parents follow the routine of the center while at home. This will help ease anxiety as the children will know what to expect. Communicate with the children via phone or video calls, so they know your face and reconnect with the relationship you have with them. Have parents start talking about going back to daycare and reminding their children of the fun things that happen as to create anticipation versus feelings of anxiety. Model the excitement of going back and remind them it is a safe place and that you will be coming back to get them.
These are challenging times and change seems to be happening at a rapid pace. Be mindful of the changes that impact your families, children and teachers as we open society back up and start to return to normal. Anxiety is high, emotions are high and we so desperately want normal back. Take the time to create steps for parents and teachers to maintain health and safety so we all can move forward together.
HiMama is Here to Help!
In these COVID times, parents are looking for centers that offer digital parental communication, shared photo and video updates, and contactless check-in and billing. HiMama is the perfect childcare app to help you with all that, and boost your enrollment!
Just curious how a face to face no mask 2, 3, 4 year child is safe to be in a daycare setting not knowing what their parents have been up to or how seriously they have been taking this virus. All other businesses returning to work are requiring 6 ft social distancing. All other businesses are requiring mask and ppe. How does a child stay six feet apart in daycare how does a child ware a mask. How does a child return to a house where they lives with a grandparent.
Yes i have the same question. ?? How do you social distanced kids of that age group . They love to play and interact with each other
Hi Terri, Yes this is a very hot topic and we are all very curious to see how everything works when back in the classroom. So far, the only insight I have heard is classes seem to be operating at a lower ratio and centers are arranging the room so that there are less meeting points for physical interaction.
I am an Assistant Director and we make sure its the same group of children and teachers each and every day. There is no way to social distance the children under 3 because they do not understand and most of their skills at this age come from socializing. Not much to do but be consistent, clean and sanitize daily and breathe.
Hello I agree working with teachers in early childhood classrooms which are 6 wks-3yrs its impossible to social distance with this age group however you can have individual containers during group time with materials.
Hi Danny,
For the children wearing masks, I would check with your local guidelines and possibly reach out to other centers to see how they are tackling the wearing of masks.Everywhere is a little different as to the guidelines being set out, so I also can point you to the direction of our blog post: How to Introduce Face Masks at Childcare Centers During COVID-19. In regards to children staying 6 feet apart, I believe many centers are opening at reduced ratios to accommodate for more space, and allowing children to be more spread out during the day.
ECE with Cori Berg on Facebook is a great avenue for learning how their centre in Texas has implemented face masks with the children. I have practiced with my 4 year old son and he is wearing it when needed! He wanted to come to store so he had to wear mask. He was just so happy to be allowed in anywhere that he put it right on! Also recommended telling children that they can do more if they put masks on.
This was a good article until the last point. Are you kidding? Making pods for children in the playroom? Do you know anything about the social aspect of children’s development? This is so wrong on so many levels.
I completely agree! We will not be encouraging children to isolate and not play with each other. We are focusing on the aspects that really do keep them safe, e.g. sanitizing and hygiene. These are traumatized children who have lived through the most significant emotionally impacting events since World War II. We will be hugging them when they are hurt, Allowing them to play together if they want, and letting them be kids. The centers that have all been doing that throughout the pandemic – 45% of centers have been open – have not seen viral spread. No pods for us
Agreed! Taped out pods?! Three year olds. They don’t see a piece of tape on the floor as a physical barrier. I fear keeping children apart and restricted to pods will be detrimental to their normal development and become the full time job for teachers. Children naturally want to play together and much of a three year old classroom is about discovery, free choice and free play.
Children are not required to wear masks in day care. Only staff because it is impossible for children that small to wear a mask all day or stop from interacting with their friends.
As a Director, our Governor outlined the requirements for daycare providers in the last couple of weeks. To be totally honest, it’s a lot more physical work then before, more paperwork and liability. The sanitizing and disinfecting alone is 4 times a day, hand washing every 30 minutes, morning temperature checks, staggering arrival times, temperature checks at the start of nap time and creative ways implementing 6 feet social distancing for children is overwhelming. To teach children to wear a mask must come from the parents first. The same applies to social distancing. I personally, try to make the new changes fun by sing songs, doing the hand washing count. Repeating the steps throughout the day. Praising the children for their success and if they are having difficulty to re-teach them by visual, verbal and guided learning. The consequences for not complying with the state regulations are very serious. I can lose my license, my job and inevitably causing hardship on my own child and the rest of my family. In addition, all violations are public record, therefore everyone can have access to that information. Finally, I have dedicated 20 years to my career, I have an undergrad degree from Villanova University and Masters degree from Arcadia University. My total cost and investment in my career is currently$150,000 in my education. Now, these are things that people don’t know about teachers. Majority of us, do not get any type of medical insurance, No holiday pay, No sick pay, majority of the Directors work 30 hours, overtime Is out of the question and we usually never make more the $20.00 per hour. Teachers usually do not have a break at lunch, but rather eat and supervise children during nap time.
The bottom line is, we are in this together. Our lives have changed dramatically. But we must do our best to comply. We need our parents on the same page. This virus is not a joke we have to remember it kills people. This virus does not discriminate and this virus spreads very quickly.
So the next time you drop off your children at day care please remember” We really do care about your children and we care about the safety of our teachers“.
Do you care about the neighborhood that you have a Child care Center in.How do they put a chair care center in a neighborhood between two homes please explain this to me
I have raised 10 children in my lifetime. I have yet to see a pre k or younger child that will wear a mask for 10 hours. These children are expected to eat and put a mask back on, sleep and put a mask back on. No way. The adult in charge will end up putting the mask back on the children and there goes social distancing and hands touching the face.
I feel like this is something that we teach. It’s not natural for a child to use their words at this age, but it’s a skill that we teach. If an adult has an expectation of the child wearing a mask for 100% of the time, I agree, they are setting that child up for failure. However, if we ask them (and model and teach them) to put it back on when it inevitably comes off, then we are preparing them for a hopefully-temporary new normal.
Excellent point Barbara.
Kids that age will not even keep their shoes on but I think there is a few designs that make it hard for them to take the masks off and they can be expensive.
I am particularly interested in how to reopen with Twos. Masks don’t seem feasible, but Twos rarely contain their coughs and sneezes.
According to our guidelines, children with coughs would not be able to attend
You don’t have to have a ‘cough’ to cough. Coughs can come at anytime.
One of the main objectives of preschool is to teach little ones how to socialize. It seems counterintuitive and counterproductive to intentionally keep them apart. How does one go about keeping them apart without the children feeling like they are being “punished” for lack of a better word.
I’m grateful other people have the same basic concerns that I do. This all seems impossible or even harmful.
I foresee horrific long term socio-emotional effects of this. If children do not learn appropriate social skills now; sharing and taking turns, cooperative play, ect,,, during preschool and are instead taught to be selfish and only think of themselves; for example that they always have their own stuff and no one can touch it/ no sharing,,,mine mine mine,,,, this generation of children will face serious challenges. If we think we have problems with the current generation of young adults literally tearing down our country, what damage will this generation do? Scary times
Oh I completely agree!
I am so scared for our future
Positive social/emotional development is most important for our preschoolers to be ready for the demands of school age instruction. My clients are children with behavioral issues like attending and anxiety. For 40 years now, I have helped young children develop a healthy self-awareness, build positive relationships, acquire self-regulation skills & strong decision-making skills. For children to learn to solve problems they need to learn how to regulate their emotions first. I fear if the children are not interacting their problems/emotions are being hidden. If behaviors are not observed, then intervention will not happen! With no intervention what will happen to these children in the future?
Separating the preschoolers from each other at play is extremely damaging to their social skills. I am holding on to the fact that this is going to be temporary. Please all; government officials, educational leaders, parents and especially scientists; let us not make this go on for too long!
This is my concern as well. We reopen next week with our students with IEPs and the following week for all others. I worry that teaching children to stay away from other children and to play alone is going to have long term negative effects on their psychological and social emotional development. The goals for our little ones are to share, take turns, role play with peers, talk to peer during play routines, solve conflicts together etc. How this will look from 6’ apart is anyone’s guess. Plus, I don’t believe three year olds (especially with developmental delays) will stay distanced.
How do you practice social distancing while travelling in and out of the classroom in a line…please advoce a few ideas on how to do so…thank you!!! This page was really helpfil
I read a bit in this article about an option of de-enrolling some kids. How do they decide to to turn away, and how is that fair to deny a child the benefit of preschool. They would be behind then suddenly starting kindergarten the next year, not to mention be socially stunted. Actual 4-k preschool spots fill up fast. Are they suggesting some kids just won’t get the benefit of a pre-k education before kindergarten? There are far more rising preschoolers than available preschools. Especially if they severely reduce class sizes.
Not to mention I can’t see 4 year olds cooperating with wresting masks all day. They are still very young. Even with parents and teachers encouragement. Teachers will spend more time correcting kids to wear them than teaching the children the basics.
Even older kids that should be able to keep them on. There are kids with ADHD, sensory issues, kids on the spectrum, or with certain 504 plans and IEPs that will spend more time distracted or melting down to be able to focus on school work.
With my son in middle school I’m dreading it. All the work, therapy, etc to get him where he is today will be undone if he has to wear a mask all day. His anxiety, sensory issues, and inability to see as well as hear the teacher speaking will undo everything we’ve worked YEARS to improve. I hope the answer isn’t “well there will be casualties” attitude doesn’t pop up. Parents have to fight to advocate for their 504 plan IEP kids enough as it is.
My heart goes out to you. Most parents are worried about sending their child back to school and how this current climate will effect their social-emotional health. Having to consider sensory processing issues, health issues, ADHD, or other special needs has to amplify the uncertainty and conflicting feelings you’re facing right now. Have you considered online school for your son? Private school? Homeschooling individually, or in a group with other parents and students? Maybe some simple adaptations, like a face shield instead of a mask, would help? I 100% believe every child has the right to an education, so please don’t interpret my comment as being negative in any way. You’re concerned for your son and I’m just sharing some ideas that could possibly help. It breaks my heart that parents are stressed and worried about their children attending school. I am too. School should be a place to make progress, grow, and learn. Not a place of fear, frustration, and loss of progress. What’s right for one child and family, isn’t necessarily right for another. I hope you find a solution that puts your heart and mind at ease. NO child should ever be labeled a ‘casualty’. Best wishes.
I don’t understand why they our rushing to open the centers back up. What ever the parents have been doing it’s been working. Stay at home working with their kids . Their not going to understand that this is the new way of life until their is a cure. 6 ft apart I think they need to come up with a plan to protect staff. My owner told me if we get covid -19 we have to use our vacation days. I don’t think that it’s fair or right. Did I know Their was going to be a pandemic.
Check state and fed laws on that. I’m a public school teacher and my boss said we’ll have 10 days if we test positive. Idk if those days we’ll have to teach remotely or what the details are (obviously if teachers were deathly ill they wouldn’t be able to teach at all), but I assumed it is state mandated. 🤷♀️
My daughter works with 1 year olds at a daycare. How do you social distance 1 year olds? She got reprimanded because the children weren’t social distancing!!!!!
I am a Kindergarten teacher and I am having a hard time with shifting my mindset when it comes to teaching and providing care and instruction for these young students using social distancing protocols. All researched based theories on learning through play can not be thrown out the window. Young children are not pieces of furniture to be arranged or rearranged and to stay put. They need to move, cooperate, collaborate and problem solve with each other. I fear that I will be micromanaging spacing instead of teaching. I think there may be more harm than good when it comes to children’s mental/social/emotional health if we continue to impose these guidelines (which obviously are not one size fits all). What happened to: wash your hands, sit criss cross and cover your cough/sneeze with your elbow?
Fully agree!
I teach preschool and I’m feeling the same. How are we to teach social skills if they’re unable to play cooperatively, take turns, share, role play, etc?! I saw a kindergarten room that had individual yoga mats for each student (with required space between them) Each mat had a small lap tray with their books/folders/papers, and a stack of several supply boxes for materials, manipulatives, etc. so each student had their own personal space. Idk any other details, but I’m just trying to keep in mind that our classrooms might not look anything like they have in the past. We’ll need to think out of the box, have open minds, and get creative in how we teach and arrange our classrooms. I’d like to see some places that are currently open and see how they’re doing it all.
I had these same questions! I’m a Prek teacher opening soon. Please check out the opening during Covid webinar (Free) from Branches Atelier in Culver City, CA on their Facebook page, they have some beautiful examples of how to enlist children in collaboration and learning while keeping a distance, it’s a beautiful reflection of the competencies and gifts that young children offer and an inspiring reminder that constraints offer opportunities for innovation and creativity (teacher and child).
Have you taken into consideration children with asthma or special needs? My daughter has asthma and I will not be putting a mask on her. Does this mean she won’t be allowed to attend daycare?
Also, I have an almost 8 month old daughter who is supposed to be starting in October and I’m not entirely comfortable with just dropping her off at the door without any type of transition, especially with her not having been exposed to other people in the last 3 months.
My other thought is that with socializing being such a big part of the children attending daycare, how are these new rules going to affect them long term.
I think a lot more thought needs to go into the long terms effects of this especially with the children’s mental health. Wearing a mask for 8+ hours a day is not going to work for many children. What about the children who can’t hear as well or function better with facial cues which they won’t receive with everyone around them wearing masks.
As for the time slots for pick up and drop off, what happens if you don’t have help and you’re working a 9-5 job? … this process won’t work for all families.
I strongly disagree with kids social distancing! The reason I put my child in daycare is so he can learn to socialize. And I find that wearing a mask for so many hours in the day is harmful. If your child is sick, they should stay home but if they’re in good health, they should be in school learning and playing not worrying about having to stay away from each other. I hope daycares will not implement these social distancing rules.
I am convince that preschool is no longer a learning center but a daycare .Children will no longer get to explore and manipulate .To me this is more of a making sure everyone is safe ,yes I know its safety first but all focus will now be on wearing a mask and social distance ,the educational aspect is going to be deprived in some way. The only way a child is going to stay social distance is if that child is born a solitary player .
Most preschools ARE day care, unless it’s a morning or afternoon program in a public school, private school or church. If it’s in a daycare center, it’s day care. That doesn’t mean the children aren’t learning, but the primary purpose of the place is to provide the parents with child care.
I work in a preschool that is in a school, not a child care center, and our purpose isn’t providing child care, the children go to either a morning or afternoon preschool school day and then they go home. It’s not child care.
I just heard from an instructor at the American Red Cross that classroom teaching is 3 feet apart and not 6 feet apart. Have you heard this? Also, I would like to know what centers are doing about beddings for nap time? Are parents taking them home daily to wash or should we not have them bring in bedding?
If parents should choose to bring in bedding for their child it remains at the center for the entire week and brought home on Fridays the laundering. After the child has rested all of their bedding goes in a tote labeled with their own name and packed away day-to-day
I noticed that also. I would like to hear more about this as well. This seems more possible for my classroom and certainly would help.
Our 45 kid center didn’t close. We’ve been running with infants, toddlers and preschoolers who’s parents have essential jobs, and we’ve had the most illness free spring ever. We are taking common sense precautions and certainly keeping groups smaller, washing hands more, sanitizing surfaces & toys more, but none of this crazy keep kids in a taped off space nonsense. Childcare, preschool and even elementary schools in other states and other countries have stayed open, and there have not been kid or school based outbreaks, nor have their been big clusters of people getting sick, and even schools that have had multiple staff impacted, it tracks back to staff rooms and other multi use adult spaces, NOT to the kids. I think everyone needs to look at the research and implement common sense precautions, but lets not be crazy or we’re going to create an entire generation of socially stunted germ a phobes.
Hi, can you give some more details about your area, for instance, are you in an area with very few covid cases or moderate, or a lot? And do you have a lot of kids whose parents are healthcare workers? I am trying to reopen a preschool Sunday School class and am looking for information about how people are doing. Do you have any info on other places who are doing well that I could contact? I need evidence that this is working!
I’m particularly looking for evidence that in places with known covid rates, have kids been known to infect adults?
I have looked at a great site which evaluates all the studies done on children concerning covid. It is https://dontforgetthebubbles.com/evidence-summary-paediatric-covid-19-literature/. I highly recommend it.
Thanks!
Hello, can you tell us how you handle drop-off and pick-up times? Thank you!
It’s good to see so many people voicing my concerns. I know childcare is essential for working people but question how we can force these rules and restrictions on real children. They go against most of what we know children need for early childhood education.
My school won’t open until August but even then I don’t want to be the space patroller.
If parents should choose to bring in bedding for their child it remains at the center for the entire week and brought home on Fridays the laundering. After the child has rested all of their bedding goes in a tote labeled with their own name and packed away day-to-day
I operated a small part-day preschool until recently but closed it because I knew with everything that is coming next there would be very little room for teaching or interacting with my students. I would be managing distance and constantly cleaning so little to no learning taking place. Not only can preschoolers not social distance very few primary students can either. This is definitely a year for the books.
If you are in the US and read the CDC guidelines for re-opening daycare, it does NOT say that the kids need to stay 6 feet apart except at naptime! The idea seems to be that each classroom is a bubble that stays together with the same staff, and the other steps (stagger playground times, don’t allow family members in the center, cancel field trips and large group activities) are their definition of social distancing.
Keeping small children physically distant from each other is 1.impossible 2. not good for mental health and 3. counterproductive-why even be open other than to provide parents the ability to go to work. Plenty of daycares have remained open the entire time Covid-19 has been in the US and I feel confident that the media would be all over announcing clusters or outbreaks tied to childcare, as they have with the spread in nursing homes. This is a misunderstanding that needs to be cleared up.
Many preschools need to see the reply above about distancing stated boldly by the cdc and state licensing agencies. Many of us are considering not opening next year ONLY because of social distancing and masking requirements.
I understand everyone’s concerns, I have them too! We have to look at the bigger picture… COVID 19 is real. We have to protect children, families, and staff. Childcare centers and schools are regulated to follow the CDC, Health Dept, and Community Care Licensing. They give us guidelines to follow. If we don’t follow our center will not be allowed to operate. The guideline is in place to protect us all. I’m sure the staff has reservations returning back to the classroom. If they see the protocols/guidelines in place it may help ease the anxiety they may have. As far as having children wearing a face mask, it’s like anything else you teach them. Give them the reasons why they have to wear it and be consistent with the expectation
. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. At our center’s, children will have to wear a mask. We will not force them, but teachers who have build relationships with children should be able to get the children to keep their mask on. If this does not work a child will NOT be forced to put the mask back on. We all know that most guidelines goes against Child Development, but this too shall pass. It’s not for long until Vaccine is found.
I totally agree with you. Covid-19 ,has changed everything. Practicing social distancing is protecting children and there families. If you are a good teacher you will find ways to teach children social skills. Being social is more than touching. There are many activities that will an be implemented where children interact at a distance. Be creative! Think about the lives of the children and teachers.
What do we do with the young child who has chronic allergies with symptoms of coughing, sneezing, and runny nose in the childcare setting? A doctor friend of mine suggested we request the child be tested for COVID at the peak of their symptoms and submit to our childcare the negative test result along with a doctor’s note documenting the child’s allergies. Follow up question: does a child who presents symptoms of a cold (coughing, sneezing, runny nose) need to be excluded from a childcare setting until completely symptom-free?
I am an in home preschool, also taking the many extra measures to ensure the safety and well being of my children, who are ages 3-5. We were already practicing germ control before covid-19, so thankfully my kids were already on board with understanding the need to keep germs to themselves. I have set up assigned seating for the first time and my children do not mind at all. I have also set up individual educational toy trays, art trays, and individual 4′ circular play and move rugs. I believe I have reached my limit as to what I can do to create a less germ-y yet nurturing classroom environment. I must now refocus on my main role as a preschool teacher now. . I think masks are germ carriers for children. I switch mine sometimes three times a day. I think for all of us, this is a trial and error and definitely a test on our creativity and stress management skills.
I liked that you pointed out that it would be smart to consider having kids wear masks right now at preschool. My sister needs to find a good preschool for my nephew to go to this August. It might be smart to consider finding a school that takes hygiene and health very seriously.
This blog was very helpful , I understand the backlash about the pods and understand that children need socialization. We have been doing the pods at the center I work at and I believe they do keep the kids distanced and safe. It’s not the norm and there was no handbook written for the situation we are going through. Teachers and parents are doing the best they can. If I was a preschool parent I would probably not enroll my child into preschool during these time but some people don’t have that option. They have jobs to fulfill and have no one else to care for their children. Let’s do the best we can as teachers so that the virus doesn’t reach our classrooms.
Hello, can you tell us how you handle drop-off and pick-up times? Thank you!
Would it be possible to find one of the gaiters in super hero print or a sports team that your son would like, I understand they are not as restrictive and can be pulled down to his neck when he needs a mask break, and I think it might give him more control of the mask wearing. I have Grandsons who wear them and they tell me they are more comfortable than the face masks and some of them are really cool looking.
How do you practice social distancing while travelling in and out of the classroom in a line…please advoce a few ideas on how to do so…thank you!!! This page was really helpfil