As school resumes with changing COVID protocols, here's what parents should know about masking and their children's development: 🧵 During a child’s first few years, they rapidly develop communications skills. Parents and other caregivers help by reading, talking, singing and playing. The more words a child hears, the better.

Big day for kids under 5: COVID vaccines are finally here and soon will be heading out to pediatricians’ offices! 🧵 Today, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice recommended COVID vaccination for children ages 6 mos-5 yrs.

With recent news about masking on public transit and no update on when a COVID vaccine will be available for children under 5, families are understandably frustrated and concerned. Our take on protecting those too young to be immunized right now: 🧵 The recent court ruling striking down federal mask mandates on public transportation, and the Justice Department’s appeal of the ruling, has created confusion about whether flying or riding the train or bus is safe without a mask healthychildren.org/English/tips-t…

Getting children safely back to school is necessary and possible with layered protections. Pediatricians urge families to get vaccinated and offer advice on school reopenings and the Delta variant. 🧵 “We must work together to ensure that all children return to school safely. There are two things we can do right now to help make that possible: Get vaccinated and mask up.”- @AAPPres Dr. Lee Beers in @CNNOpinion cnn.com/2021/08/14/opi…

School is starting and masks can be especially important for children younger than age 12, who are not yet eligible for the COVID vaccines. 🧵 Here's some real talk about masks as kids are #BackTogether this fall.🧵 Research shows that schools where children and adults are consistently masked are effective in preventing the transmission of COVID-19. COVID remains a serious threat to children’s health. Universal masking can help make in-person learning safe this fall. services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-…

Recent headlines describing unsafe conditions that immigrant children are being exposed to at the U.S. southern border have alarmed us as they have many pediatricians. We must make immediate, permanent changes to the way we treat immigrant children when they come here. Thread: 1/ Our own policy is clear: pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/139/5/…. This is what it calls for: 2/