At this point in the pandemic, most children in Canada and the United States aren’t required to wear masks at school anymore.
That might sound like great news?except that in some regions, such as Ontario, COVID-19 cases are higher than ever, and credible health experts say we shouldn’t have dropped the mask mandates (and other pandemic measures) in schools. 
How can parents figure out what’s best for their family" Here are some things to consider.
Masks are effective

Plenty of research indicates the benefits of mask-wearing during the pandemic. A recently released study funded by the National Institutes of Health, for example, found that schools with mandatory masking during the Delta wave had approximately 72 percent fewer cases of COVID transmitted at school compared to schools where masking was optional or there was only a partial masking policy. On the other hand, it’s important to know that not all masks are equal. A well-fitting medical mask or respirator offers much better protection than a cloth mask.
Masks haven’t been shown to harm kids’ development or ability to breathe

Despite plenty of concern among parents about how masks might affect children?s development, from having trouble reading emotions to difficulty hearing and learning speech, ?there?s nothing in the literature about developmental issues coming from masks?and I?ve looked for it,? says Janine McCready, an infectious diseases doctor at Michael Garron Hospit...