September 2021
· 4 min read
You may already be nervous about your kids going back to school. Now headlines are warning us about the rapid spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, which complicates the impact of COVID-19 on in-person schooling. At the same time, after-school programs like gymnastics, piano lessons and indoor sports are returning.
You and your kids are eager to participate, and you appreciate the benefits of after-school extracurricular programs. They add to social, emotional and mental health and engage children in fun, interesting activities. For many kids, the dance studio or art class is also a safe haven where they get to spend time with their friends. As important as it is to keep your kids healthy at school, you’ve also got to do your homework on safety protocols at extracurricular venues.
Health recommendations for keeping kids safe will likely continue to evolve. We asked our expert, Lisa Yakas, a consumer product safety specialist and microbiologist at NSF, for recommendations to help keep kids safe inside the classroom and also outside of school. She was quick to point out that much of her advice comes from research she’s done into the guidelines being issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
As you’re getting your kids ready to go back to school, it’s the perfect chance to review proper hand washing, Scrub Club® style.