Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL).
Should adults try to stay six feet away from the children or keep children six feet away from one another in the early learning environment?
Nov. 2, 2020: Young children, especially infants and toddlers, need to be cuddled and handled for routines and play. Social interactions promote social-emotional development. Managing physical distancing in early learning environments is called “cohorting” (or “podding”) and involves keeping children in the same groups and assigned to the same staff daily, and avoiding mixing of groups and room changes, if possible. Staff are required by the Governor’s order and DHS regulation to wear masks when caring for children in child care because keeping six feet separation isn’t possible when meeting their needs. During times when masks must be removed (i.e. eating and napping), it is important to try to separate people by six feet. See the FAQ document for more info.
