Tips To Help Your Child Wear A Mask

As we all know by now, the novel coronavirus spreads when a person who is infected coughs, sneezes, or speaks within six feet of others. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), wearing a mask or cloth face covering can slow the spread of the disease. With a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, we thought it would be a great time to share some tips on how to get your little ones to tolerate wearing a mask.

It is important to keep in mind that not all children are able to safely wear a mask. According to the CDC, the following groups are not expected to wear one:

Children under two years of age
Anyone that has difficulty breathing
Anyone who is unconscious, incapacated or unable to remove their mask without assistance
Those with sensory, cognitive or behavioral challenges may have difficulty tolerating a mask or wearing one appropriately. Please visit cdc.gov to find an appropriate adaptation or alternative for traditional masks and cloth face coverings.

How can I get my child to wear a mask?

Put the masks on, look in the mirror and talk about it. Answer any questions that your child may have
Put a cloth mask on their favorite doll or stuffed animal
Decorate their cloth mask so they are more personalized
Practice wearing it at home for five to ten minutes to start and build up their tolerance time. Praise and reward them for doing a good job

How can I explain more about the Coronavirus to my child in age-appropriate terms?

Check out the following books from your local library or favorite bookstore. They can help spark a conversation that will help your child understand what is going on around the world and how they can help their community.

	Why is Everything Closed? is a colorful story about an African-American family during quarantine. When a deadly virus spreads around the world and invades their city, suddenly everything in their lives changes. After Donovan and Zara learn a stay-at-home order has sealed them indoors with their parents indefinitely, they are determined not to waste too much time playing “Clean-Your-Room” games. They come up with fun activities and learn there is life beyond video games and TV. Their parents discover how much fun it is to entertain their children at home. There’s a child in each of us. Learn how an unnatural catastrophe brings a family closer together.
	When the World is sick: This story is about a little girl who imagines meeting the coronavirus she’s heard so much about. She tells the virus all about how to stay safe and, ultimately, remembers to have joy despite the circumstances.
	Even Reindeer Wear Masks: This year, everything is different. Humans wear masks to keep each other safe.And so does Santa! He’s told his reindeer to put on masks, but will they do what he said? Join Santa on his journey as he delivers his presents and makes an unexpected friend.
	When Virona the Corona came to town: Readers follow the main character, MaryEllen, through a story that details experiences during the Coronavirus pandemic. The goal of this story is to shed light on a time of uncertainty and fear in a child-friendly way. This story: Explains what happened during the pandemic, talks about how it may have made people feel, explains key terms such as “social distancing”, highlights heroes during the time such as medical workers, grocery store employees, first responders, delivery service workers, and teachers, ends on a positive note with powerful advice to children living through difficult times