7 Tips for Getting Kids to Wear Face Masks

If you would have told me last year that in one year I would be writing a post about getting kids to wear face coverings in order to limit the spread of a novel coronavirus, I would not have believed you. However, here we are, facing a pandemic that none of us were expecting.

Many of us live in states and/or cities where mandatory mask orders are in place. Likewise, many families are getting ready to send their kids back to school where masks will be encouraged or, in many cases, required. Whether masks are required where you live or not, it is a good idea to wear them. Researchers are finding increasing evidence that simple cloth face coverings help slow the spread of COVID-19. Consider, for example, this case study out of Springfield, Missouri. Two hairstylists who were symptomatic with confirmed COVID-19 provided services for 139 clients in a salon. Everyone—the stylists and the clients—wore masks. Public health officials didn’t find any cases among the clients! It appears that the masks kept the virus from spreading from the stylists to the clients.

How do cloth masks work?

Before I get into the topic of how to get kids to wear masks, I want to clearly state how cloth face coverings work. As a former public health professional and nurse, I get very frustrated when I hear misinformation being repeated about this. Many so-called “anti-maskers” say that people who are afraid should wear the masks, but that they shouldn’t have to because they aren’t sick and they aren’t afraid. This shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how COVID-19 is transmitted and how masks work.

People who “aren’t sick” can still spread the virus. This is because individuals who don’t have symptoms and people who haven’t yet begun showing symptoms can be infected and spread the virus (asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission).

The virus spreads primarily via droplets. In other words, the virus itself isn’t flying around all over the place by itself. It is on relatively large respiratory droplets that people sneeze, cough, drip, or exhale (when talking, singing, laughing, etc.). When a person breathes in these droplets or the droplets land on the mucous membranes in the eyes or nose, then he or she can get COVID. These droplets can also land on surfaces and an individual can get the virus after touching the surfaces and then transferring the virus to the eyes or nose. Researchers are finding that in some conditions, especially indoor locations with poor ventilation, COVID may spread via tiny droplets called aerosols. These can remain suspended in the air for hours.

If a person has the virus—even if he or she is asymptomatic and doesn’t know about the infection—then he or she can spread the virus via droplets. Wearing a cloth face mask reduces the risk of transmission because the virus-laden droplets get caught in the fabric. The droplets don’t get out in the open for others to breathe them in or pick them up from surfaces. In other words, you don’t wear a mask to keep you from getting sick; you wear a mask to make sure you don’t spread the virus to others. If you choose to go without a mask, it doesn’t communicate that you are unafraid of getting sick—it communicates that you are unconcerned about making others sick.

Getting kids to wear masks

Based on my limited experience and the recommendations of experts (see my sources below), here are some tips for getting kids to wear face coverings.

• Use simple terms to describe the novel coronavirus (for example, a “bad germ” that is spreading and making people sick) and the need to wear masks.
• Model mask wearing so your kids are familiar with it.
• Let kids pick the colors and/or types of masks they wear so they are pleasing to them.
• Make mask wearing fun.
  • Wear masks around the house while playing you are superheroes who have the super power of stopping germs.
  • Make masks (using bandanas, cloth napkins, paper towels, etc.) for stuffed animals to wear.
  • Draw masks on pictures of their favorite characters or individuals they admire (cartoon characters, athletes, superheroes, etc.).
  • Use fabric markers or stickers to personalize masks.
• Look at pictures of other kids wearing masks so they understand that they won’t stand out.
• Wear masks for short periods of time at home to get used to them before venturing out where kids will need to wear them for longer periods of time.
• Provide lots of praise and encouragement when kids wear masks correctly.

Despite the benefits of masks, children under age 2 should not wear masks, nor should any children for whom masks pose a choking or strangulation hazard. Those who can wear masks (adults and children) should do so anytime they are out of the home in a situation that doesn’t allow for 6 feet of physical distancing from others.

Face masks should securely cover both the nose and mouth (pleated face coverings often work best for kids). Teach children how to don and remove masks using the ear loops or ties instead of touching the front of the mask. Likewise, remind them to avoid touching the mask while wearing it. Cloth masks should be washed after each use.

Final thoughts

Masks are definitely inconvenient, but they are one of the few tools we have to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Staying at home remains the surest way to avoid exposure to the virus, but when we have to go out, we are sure to wear masks to do our part in protecting our community.

For additional information, please visit my sources:

• Getting Your Child to Wear a Mask
• Cloth Face Coverings for Children During COVID-19
• How to Get Young Kids to Wear a Mask During the COVID-19 Pandemic

What additional tips can you add? How do you get your kids to wear face masks?

Shared at the following:

Encouraging Hearts and Home, Over the Moon, and Busy Monday.