Our kids have been troupers throughout the pandemic and lockdown, finding ways to stay busy and creative and wearing their masks, social distancing and showing concern for others. But COVID-19 has taken a toll on them as well.

Many have struggled with emotional issues amid the stress of the pandemic and lockdown.

As pediatricians and parents, we are advocates for children. Families are confused about what activities are safe and reasonable for unvaccinated young children as many people begin to venture out into the world again. They are ready for their children to safely return to school and activities they love.

Thankfully, children are at lower risk for complications from COVID-19, but low risk is not no risk. Pediatric COVID-19 still matters. Nearly 4 million children have tested positive, thousands have been hospitalized and hundreds have died.

Children’s indirect suffering from the pandemic matters, too. We have cared for more and more children and teenagers who have experienced anxiety, depression, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, learning loss, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

Masks are in front of us, visible indicators of the pandemic’s impact on our children, but we should not let them distract us from the toll COVID-19 has taken on children’s lives.

This true toll is more complex. Financial hardships, food insecurity, trauma from loss of loved ones, time away from friends and missed checkups and immunizations are more detrimental than masking, which offers a layer of protection and is well tolerated by most children.

The same advice that makes sense in communities where 80% of eligible teens and adults are vaccinated may not apply to areas where only 35% are.

Blanket statements about returning children to mask-free, mitigation-free lives, as many vaccinated adults are enjoying, are careless at a time when children account for nearly 25% of COVID-19 cases. We must be mindful of vaccine and health privilege before making sweeping advice to toss masks.

As this unusual and stressful school year ends, focusing on what to do about masks in September is nonsensical. We call on all school districts and policymakers to instead focus on committing to safely and fully reopening in person in the fall, including sports and after-school programs. Only eight states have fully committed to in-person, full-time education.

Estimating where we’ll be in the fall is difficult, of course. Variants shift, and we hope vaccine rates in eligible teens and adults will not stagnate.

Children deserve decisions grounded in scientific and pragmatic reality. Decisions about masking in schools shouldn’t be determined by politics, opinion or preferences and shouldn’t be driven by a few vocal national voices.

Dr. Kelly Fradin and Dr. Hina Talib are pediatricians in New York.