No Face Masks For Kids At Bright Horizons; 'Not Productive,' CEO Says

Safety measures are being planned for the reopening of Bright Horizons, but the childcare center's CEO Stephen Kramer said they would not require children to wear a face mask.

"The idea of young children wearing masks is not productive and ultimately causes more challenge than it does good," Kramer said in a "Squawk on the Street" interview. "Children are constantly fidgeting, touching their face and ultimately are not comfortable wearing masks."

But Bright Horizons teachers and staff at its more than 150 facilities in the U.S. will be required to wear personal protective gear. Kramer also said that parents should begin talking to their children about why the adults need to cover their faces by telling them that those in masks are heroes.

"The children see their teachers as heroes and that makes that adaption a bit easier, and certainly children are very resilient in that way," the CEO said.

A face mask may not be the best solution to end coronavirus infection, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends its use, especially in public places where social distancing is challenging.

Kramer concedes that social distancing in children will not be easy to maintain at their facilities, especially when social interaction is vital to their development. Thus, Bright Horizons will be imposing health checks upon the kids' arrival. He said that they will ensure that the kids attending their program and the staff guiding the children are healthy.

The CEO also said that some Bright Horizons centers were partially open for the children of essential workers since the lockdown orders have been in place. He assessed that their safety protocols, thus far, have been effective.

"We would never be doing that if we couldn't be doing it in a way that is safe and healthy," Kramer told CNN. The CEO didn’t reveal the exact reopening date, but some centers may be back in business by the summer, while the rest will resume in the fall.