Shouldn't Discouraging Hand Shakes Also Mean Discouraging Children's Hand Holding & Hand Clapping Games?

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III of an ongoing pancocojams series about the impact (or, perhaps, what should be the impact) of Covid-19 on children's recreational games- with particular attention to children's singing games, hand clap games, and hand slap games. Read my editor's note below for more information about this pancocojams series.

This post showcases an article in which Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIA), indicates that even after the Coronavirus, he hopes people won't return to shaking hands.

Selected comments from that article's discussion thread are also included in this post.

None of these comments refer to children holding hands while playing singing games or children playing hand clap or hand slap games. However, some of the commenters mentioned changes to schools that they foresee happening as a result of Covid-19.

The content of this post is presented for health educational and recreational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Dr. Anthony Fauci for his health educational work, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to Ed Mazza, the writer of that April 9, 2020 Huffington Post article.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
During the Covid 19 pandemic, as part of that disease's preventative guidelines, people in many parts of the world have begun to change the ways that they greet and say goodbye to each other (i.e. no more handshakes, hugs, or kisses).

This pancocojams series suggests that people should also consider the ways that Covid-19 impacts (or should impact) children's recreational activities, with particular attention to children's singing games such as "Ring Around The Rosie", children's hand clap games such as "Shame Shame Shame" and children's hand slap games such as "Stella Ella Ola".

The videos featured in Part I and Part II of this series serve as examples of how those recreational activities conflict with the guidelines during Covid-19 of not touching other people's hands and not touching other parts of another person's body. Those recreational activities also conflict with Covid-19 prevention guidelines of maintaining at least six feet of social distance between people to help prevent against getting Covid-19.

Subsequent posts in this series will focus on examples of children's recreational singing games and comments about other children's recreational activities such as foot stomping cheers that don't necessarily conflict with Covid-19 safety rules. These subsequent post will continue the labeling as indicated in this post (i.e. the post after Part III will be labeled "Part IV" etc.) Google search the words "children's recreational games Covid 19 pancocojams for other posts in this series or click the "impact of Covid-19 on children's recreational games" tag for more pancocojams posts in this series.

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ARTICLE EXCERPT
From https://www.huffpost.com/entry/anthony-fauci-handshakes_n_
Ed Mazza, US 04/09/2020
"Anthony Fauci Names The 2 Things He Hopes Will Change After Coronavirus

"The infectious diseases expert doesn’t just mean now, or in the weeks and months after the pandemic, but possibly forever.

Dr. Anthony Fauci said there are two habits many Americans have changed in an attempt to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic that he believes should stay changed.

“When you gradually come back, you don’t jump into it with both feet,” the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told The Wall Street Journal’s podcast, The Journal. “You say, y’know, what are the things you could still do and still approach normal?”

Then, Fauci gave two examples.

“One of them is absolute compulsive hand-washing,” he said. “The other is you don’t ever shake anybody’s hands. That’s clear.”

Fauci doesn’t just mean now or in the weeks and months after the pandemic, but possibly forever.

“I don’t think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you,” he said. “Not only would it be good to prevent coronavirus disease, it probably would decrease instances of influenza dramatically in this country.”...

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THAT ARTICLE'S DISCUSSION SECTION
All of these comments were published between April 9th and April 13, 2020. Numbers were added for referencing purposes only.

1. Ted Off, April 9, 2020
So many changes coming, here's a few that I can forsee, all good.

If the Lock Down on American businesses continues till the start of the Summer or even longer.

Some Americans may find that the Lock Downs changes their Spending Habits, and may decide to continue saving their money, even after the Lock Downs are Lifted.

Both Large and Small Businesses will be forced to modify their Business Models, to reflect the changes that Covid-19 has brought about.

More and more Businesses will be doing away with being open to the Public, and will be switching over to a "We Pick It & You Pick It Up" or a "We Pick & We Deliver", like some Supermarkets have already been starting.

Large Gatherings of People such as: Sporting Events, Churches, Bars, Movie Theaters, School Events, Family Reunions, etc., etc., will become to Risky for the Public to attend.

Even Family Funerals & Weddings will be Limited in size and Scope.

Our Educational System will Change Drastically, no more Huge Schools but to smaller Schools, if not completely Online.

More and more workers, where and when ever possible will be Working from Home.

Especially when Businesses see how much Money they save by not needing all the Real Estate needed for Office Space and related Expenses.

America will survive Covid-19 irregardless of how Badly the Politicians Screw Things Up.

America's Motto will once again be, "One for all, All for one".

Be Better.
T. O."

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REPLY
2. Regular Guy, April 9, 2020
"You make some good points about businesses going to more delivery and curb-side service. I think smaller stores that show items to a smaller number of people at a time and then you get them sent to you will also come.

People are realizing schools are pretty inefficient and costly when they can achieve so much more in less time. That will impact schools.

I don't think large gatherings will be done away with though. I think sporting events and concerts will continue, its cultural and covid like crises causing them to shut down are rare."

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3. Regular Guy, April 9, 2020
"I think shaking hands goes a bit too far. The only way you get any disease from shaking hands is if you put infected hands in your eyes or mouth. You can sanitize or wash before eating or touching your face."

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REPLY
4. Robert Bee, April 9, 2020
"It's not always possible to wash your hands. What if you're at a remote work site?
I'd rather forego shaking hands than have to carry a bottle of hand sanitizer everywhere I go."

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5. Cassis Moussu, April 9, 2020
"Forget handshakes! in Europe they are seriously going to cut down on "bises" (kiss on cheek) when you greet someone!"

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6. D. Bat, April 12, 2020
"I am a healthcare worker and have never liked shaking hands because I have seen many people sneeze/cough into their hands then want to shake my hand. Plus, who knows whether they washed their hands after using the bathroom. Nope, will not do it.

When I greet them I will give a wave or keep my hands in my pockets or a fist pump (which I loath too, but many insist on contact), then immediately wash my hands.

I think this will all change now and I think it is a good thing."

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7. Daniel Edwards, April 13, 2020
"I'm down with a respectful bow. For one thing, being a male, I have lost track of the number of guys I have seen walking out of a restroom without washing their hands. Disgusting."

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8. Joyce White, April 13, 2020
"I wash my hands a lot. Check. I have already decide to never shake hands again. I am with you Dr. Fauci."

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This concludes Part III of this pancocojams series.

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