Dupage Policy Journal

State Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) thinks children in Illinois should now be allowed to play sports.

Emphasizing that there are guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control in playing sports, she says kids shouldn’t be deprived.  

“Our governor, who continues to stress that we must follow the science and rely on the experts, has disregarded CDC recommendations on this issue,” Grant wrote in a press release. “By doing so, he continues to deny a great number of our school-aged children the opportunity to play the sports they love.”

Grant says families should no longer wait for regions to move to Phase 4 for them to allow their children to play basketball as instructed by the Illinois Department of Health. Parents should be given the autonomy and responsibility to decide for the safety of their kids.

Leaders, according to her, should also be looking beyond health tied to the coronavirus and “look at overall student health.”

“Kids’ mental health must be considered,” Grant stated. “The innumerable benefits of playing organized sports must be considered. The health benefits of regular exercise must be considered. We must also accept the reality that kids will gather. They can gather in a controlled setting where COVID-19 safety guidelines provide protection, or they can gather in family basements, parks, and backyards where no safety precautions are in place.”