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As the Coronavirus pandemic continues on, mask wearing has become a necessity for many. An increasing number of people are taking to wearing masks when visiting public areas such as the grocery store. Face masks are playing a vital role in preventing the spread of COVID-19; one mask can capture viral droplets that would otherwise spread infection to nearby people.
As a new social expectation, mask wearing doesn’t just apply to adultss. Based off of the guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children aged 2 and older are recommended to wear a face mask in public. Infants under the age of 2 should not wear a face due to a risk of suffocation. The CDC advices that regardless of whether a child is showing symptoms, that child should wear a mask when attending school or a child care facility. A child doesn’t need to wear a face mask when outside; however, they should continue practicing 6 feet social distancing and avoid touching surfaces such as playground equipment.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for many, especially parents. It can be a difficulty in getting your child to cooperate in taking the proper safety precautions to avoid this particular health risk. However, there are some efffective ways to get your child to wear a mask. Here are some ideas to encourage mask-wearing:
1. Explain why wearing a mask is important.
While some kids will be too young to understand the gravity of the situation, it is still worth it to try to explain what a pandemic is and how the virus could spread to the child. It’s important not to confuse the child; in simplistic terms, you can explain that the mask prevents the virus from spreading to others. Be sure to use easy-to-understand words when explaining concepts like germs or viral infections.
2. Make mask-wearing a fun activity.
Allow your kid to pick out the mask. Chances are, your child will have fun expressing a preferance for a color or a fabric in the mask. Mask-wearing can also be incorporated into a child’s playtime; place a mask over the child’s stuffed animal or doll.
3. Decorate the mask.
This activity is another fun thing to do for the child. Supply the kid with markers, stickers, and other craftsy items to decorate the mask with. Encouraging this kind of creativity will make the act of wearing a mask much more fun.
4. Offer rewards for wearing a mask.
Any parent should know the power of offering an award. Candy, vacations, access to favorite toys, and nights out to the kid’s favorite places are all great rewards in terms of motivation. Be sure to offer your child enticing awarsd to get them to consistently wear a mask.
5. Be a role model and wear a mask yourself.
Seeing other family members wearing a mask will help to normalize the this act. If your child is the only one to be wearing a mask in public, this could cause confussion or anxiety.
6. Show the child’s favorite characters or celebrities wearing the mask.
Seeing a familiar face with a mask on will also be encouraging for your kid. If your kid has a favorite superhero or fictional character, find a photo of that character wearing a COVID-19 face mask.
7. Be clear in the mask-wearing instructions.
As a parent, you don’t want to create any confusion with this activity. In plain terms, explain what the mask is for and mention what situations they should wear the mask. Be sure to answer your child’s questions in a supportive manner.
