As parents prepare for the 2020/21 school year, masks will be part of back-to-school shopping. The province has made masks mandatory for students and staff in Grades 4 to 12 in classes where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, says the government may also make masks mandatory in other indoor areas in the future – but there will be exemptions, including for people with breathing problems – and kids under age 2.
I ran into some great tips on KidsHealth.org to help get your kid used to wearing a mask during their school day. Some of the tips include:
Help kids get used to masks
As much as you can, give kids time to practice wearing their masks before they might need to wear one outside of your home. Teach them how to put them on and take them off.
Encourage kids to decorate their masks.
This might help them feel a sense of ownership and control over the situation. A personal touch can help make it more of a normal part of their routine.
Make them together.
If you make masks or cloth face coverings at home, let older kids help you. There are no-sew masks that are easy to make, often with materials you probably already have (T-shirts, bandannas, etc.). If you sew masks, maybe kids can select the fabric or patterns for the masks they’ll wear.
My daughter recently decorated some of her masks, now she can’t wait to wear them out of the house. What is your tip or hack for making wearing masks for kids a bit easier?
