Seriously? You’re saying we just don’t know if covering half of our faces helps or hurts communication? Can you not just accept that there’s negative qualities to mask wearing? Meh, forget it. This is the breaking news thread anyway.
Moderator Note
Although this refers to the poster’s opinions rather than the poster themselves, it is still inappropriately snarky for this forum. Let’s keep it civil here.
Colibri
QZ Moderator
OK- how about some cites? I know that researchers have had the same thoughts. Surely there is a study out there?
Here are some cites to get you started:
NY Times report (unfortunately, they don’t seem to find any issues in socialization):
Psychology Today:
Another report from UPI:
Also, 82% of kids live with a sibling. So they also get to see at least one other kid’s facial expressions. And distance learning can include seeing and interacting with other kids via video chat.
My kids are starved for in person interaction, but I have zero concern about their ability to read facial expressions.
The biggest concerns to me are child abuse that is hidden. Especially for the kids who have disappeared from schools. There are thousands of kids who just disappeared – they aren’t showing up for distance learning, didn’t withdraw, schools don’t know what happened to them. Presumably most just moved, are staying with relatives, etc., and are attending some other school. But some, maybe not.
The other concern I have for kids is that there are plenty whose parents or caregivers can’t be their distance learning teachers, so they goof off all day and are not really learning much. They will be losing a lot of ground.
No, I’m suggesting that if kids are given a harder challenge they may develop stronger skills.
But honestly, I’m going with my gut feeling, my friends’ reports of their kids, and the research above – I don’t think masking is going to make much difference in how kids develop social skills, including learning to read faces.
I do agree with eschrodinger, that there are a lot of other reasons to be concerned about the impact of the pandemic on kids. And I’d add that to the extent their parents are worried or stressed (emotionally and/or financially) that will hurt kids, too.
Well, we’ll see. I was thinking younger children like 5 yr olds, certainly not up to 13 yr olds mentioned in your Psychology Today link.
Yeah, kids take that stuff in. And if the kid constantly has some level of stress from it, there can be lifelong consequences. It’s not good to grow up steeped in cortisol.
I think a version of this is also likely to be what is driving the panic reactions we’ve experienced from a couple of young kids. I would guess that their household includes someone very vulnerable, or otherwise very fearful, and the kid is young enough that it can’t just be explained to them, so parents are getting freaked out about the kid making a mistake or having someone come too close. So, the kid thinks someone coming toward them is something to freak out about. (And maybe it kind of is – I don’t know their situation. But it seems like it will be a big thing to have to “unlearn” later.)
People go to great lengths to come up with reasons why a mask could be dangerous.
nm…
It’s just a bit disingenuous to paint people concerned about the welfare of young children as stupid anti-maskers.
Eg: The notoriously anti-mask Japanese:
Cross-posting from the AstraZeneca approval in the US thread.
More information/discussion in t’other thread.
j
“Think of the children!” is always the first cry by people opposing some policy or plan. I’m going to need some good solid evidence before I take this at face value. A single professor based on observations doesn’t cut it. Maybe masks will lead to problems but atm there’s no strong reason to conclude this.
I’m not making any claim about the effects of masks on children. I’m saying implying asking the question, “Is this harmful to children?” to be a stupid question is not right.
Simply posing the question is fine but in my reading that’s not what FigNorton is doing (caveat: it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve misread someone). FN appears to be pushing back on the recommendation that children (and adults around them) wear masks on the speculation that it will hurt their development.
California just announced that indoor concerts, theaters, etc. will be allowed to open April 15. Proof of vaccination or negative test is required for entry, and attendance is limited to well below capacity.
Moderator Note
Let’s drop this hijack. It doesn’t belong in the breaking news thread.
Colibri
QZ Moderator
I’m saying that I think a child spending ages 3-5 without seeing their peers’ faces could have some lasting bad effects. I am not sure how bad but seeing it casually dismissed is kind of baffling.
As I said, drop the hijack.
130,810,955 total cases
2,850,399 dead
105,304,521 recovered
In the US:
31,314,625 total cases
567,610 dead
23,825,635 recovered
Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: