The week's best parenting advice: August 10, 2021

Another pandemic school year, how to ease back-to-school anxieties, and more

A child wearing a mask.
(Image credit: Illustrated | iStock)

1. Another pandemic school year

As children and teens prepare to return to school across the U.S., parents are faced with a tough question: Just how dangerous is the Delta COVID-19 variant for my kids? Unfortunately, pediatric specialists and epidemiologists don't have a definitive answer, and may not until school has been back in session for a few months. That may seem like a cruel experiment, and indeed, many parents are grappling with the challenges of yet another pandemic school year. But remember, there's still "no firm evidence that the disease is more severe," in kids, Dr. Jim Versalovic, interim pediatrician in chief at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, tells The New York Times. Until more data comes in, parents and children age 2 and up should wear masks in larger crowds, the American Academy of Pediatrics' Sean O'Leary tells The Washington Post, adding: "The most important thing that we can do is everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated, be vaccinated."

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Jessica Hullinger

Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.