The short answer is "No," says Dr. Perri Klass, writing for the New York Times. But teachers may need to adapt some of their communications--and even the way they dress. "Children will adapt quickly [to masks]," says one researcher Klass quotes, "but teachers should help them along by wearing the same eyeglasses, the same hairstyle or the same personalized mask."

Studies have shown that children pay attention to peoples' mouths when they're talking--but it's not the only cue. They also pick up on gestures, overall body language and voices. All the researchers Klass interviewed were confident that children will be able to adapt to friends and teachers wearing masks. One thing that may help: "...children and adults should start practicing being more explicitly verbal by stating their emotions out loud." In addition, parents and teachers should start asking children what they are feeling more often. 

There may even be an upside: "...one effect of spending time masked and around masked people may be that children actually improve their ability to read those other cues." Read more.

The author of Purposeful Play, Kristi Mraz, understands that there are many variations in the way this year is unfolding for teachers. That's why she and two colleagues offer a rubric designed to help you translate your beliefs about play into classrooms transformed by COVID-19. 

For example, one principle is "play is self-directed." In a virtual classroom, you might ask children to create their own "play plans." In a socially distanced in-person classroom, students may work in small groups and decide together what they're going to do, but each child carries out their part of group play independently. 

This blog post for Heinemann Publishers also includes suggestions for portioning materials, for "at home play bags," and loose parts play. Read more.

Teaching Pre-K remotely may seem totally different, according to Michele Coulombe, writing for edutopia, but early educators can adapt some familiar strategies to the virtual setting. In a classroom, you might pass a ball around and have each child share something as a way to promote relationship-building. Teaching online you can do the same thing--but the ball is a pretend toy. And, of course, the classic "show and tell" is perfect for remote learning since children's favorite stuffed animals and other objects are in their homes.

Other activities that can easily be carried out via Zoom or other platforms include group games such as Simon Says or Freeze Dance, "where children can move their bodies, hear different musical genres and have fun together."