The pandemic has affected kids in many ways. They have endured remote schooling, isolation from their friends, and worries about bringing infection home to family members. While each student’s experience is different, many face common concerns related to their disrupted lives. Listen to hear a sixth-grader describe how the pandemic has affected her and her family, and what she hopes people will learn from experiencing this historic event.
Story Length: 5:27
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August 30, 2021
3:32
Students across the nation are returning to in-person school, even as COVID-19 infection rates are surging in some parts of the country, and masking has become a controversial topic. Some states have forbidden school districts from imposing mask mandates, but outbreaks of COVID have already forced several schools to shut down after only a few days. Parents and school boards are fiercely divided on the issue of masks. Listen to a high school teacher describe the start of her school year and how she believes students are being affected by the conflict and uncertainty.
Read MoreMay 24, 2021
3:32
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a COVID-19 vaccine for 12-15-year-olds. Kids who tested the vaccine, developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, were extremely well protected against the virus and had only mild side effects. Approval of the new vaccine means that 87% of Americans are eligible to be vaccinated, raising hopes that life can return to normal and the pandemic can be defeated. Listen to learn more about the new vaccine and how teens and preteens – and their parents – are responding.
Update: Since this story aired, the Pfizer vaccine has become available for kids aged 12-15.
Read MoreMay 12, 2020
2:24
The coronavirus pandemic has changed the lives of every American. As schools around the country have closed, students have faced enormous shifts in their routines, social lives, and in how they learn. In this audio story, students in elementary, middle, and high school reflect on their experiences during the pandemic. Listen to hear the voices of kids expressing fears, sharing coping strategies, and explaining what they have come to appreciate.
Read MoreMarch 17, 2020
3:18
Leaders in over 30 states have closed schools statewide to help contain the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Millions of students will be home, and parents and guardians are scrambling to find child care. Children from low-income families who rely on free or reduced-price lunches, and parents who are unable to stay home from work, will face particular challenges. Listen to learn why schools are closing for long periods of time and what politicians are doing to help people affected by the virus.
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