3 TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR KIDS’ MASKS ON

Adjusting to face masks has been a challenge for many children — and it’s a problem that’s only going to intensify as more and more kids and teens head back to in-person day care, child care and school.

Here are some tips to make the process a little easier.

1. Get the right mask for your child.

Health experts say the cloth variety is generally all that’s necessary for children — but not any cloth mask will do. The fit matters .“Children are unlikely to keep a mask on if it is very uncomfortable for them,”explains Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases doctor at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.“If it does not fit properly, they will likely touch their face and mask frequently to make adjustments, which could also run the risk of increasing their chance of infection.”

To ensure a proper and comfortable fit, experts recommend getting face coverings specifically sized for children. A good fit happens when a cloth mask covers the nose and mouth and secures under the chin. Ear loops can be easier for young children than ties, and the American Academy of Pediatrics says pleated masks often fit little ones best.

2. Practice the 3 P’s: Prep, plan and patience.

Rebecca Schrag Hershberg, a clinical psychologist, parenting coach and author, says it’s also helpful to prepare children for this new reality in any way you can. For younger children, she says, that might involve showing them what different facial expressions look like while wearing a mask so they get used to reading emotions and picking up on social cues when they can only see people’s eyes and foreheads.

Provide positive reinforcement whenever possible and praise small victories.“If you find out from the teacher that your child did a good job wearing their mask for part of the day, focus on that rather than criticizing the part of the day that they struggled ,” Her sh berg says.“We all need to remind ourselves that this is new, and it’s a process. It’s not always going to go smoothly.”

3. Manage face-mask feelings.

Beyond the logistics of wearing a mask, there are emotions it may trigger in children, too.“For younger children, the issue with masks can be related to discomfort, unfamiliarity or just general fear. It can be uncomfortable for kids to wear them. It’s hot and sweaty. Older kids may complain they get mask breath or it exacerbates acne. But we have to teach our children to focus on the greater good,”says Ghassan N. Atiyeh, a pediatrician with Children’s Medical Associates in Northern Virginia.

In addition to calmly and clearly explaining why we wear masks, Hershberg says validating children’s feelings is important, too.“It’s not helpful to say things like, ‘It’s not that bad,’ or ‘Come on, what’s the big deal?’ It’s far better to acknowledge that this is different and does feel weird, but that it’s also important and something we need to do for the health of our community,” she says.

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