How can I help my child get used to wearing a face mask?

The next school year is approaching with a start to the year that will be different than previous years for most kids around the country. As school districts are working out the details of various ways to provide instruction, parents have infinite questions. One of the questions is if their child will need to wear a mask in school. Questions that follow are “How do I help my child wear a face mask?” and others about how their child will be willing to wear their mask or keep their mask on. You will find some tips below about helping your child get used to wearing a face covering that you can implement now in preparation for school attendance or other activities outside your home.

Talk about why people are wearing masks

• An important first step that is often skipped before parents obtain masks and give one to their child to wear is having a conversation with their child about the expectation to wear a face mask It may be helpful to begin the conversation with providing some basic information about COVID-19 and transmission of the novel coronavirus through respiratory droplets.
• Keep the language for the rationale basic and simple. Some examples can include “I wear a mask to keep you safe and others safe. Others wear a mask to keep us safe. We wear masks to keep each other safe.” “We can help slow the virus spread if we do our part and wear masks.”
• Be calm. Listen to your child and their concerns. Allow your child time to ask questions. Allow your child to express their emotions.
  

  

Be the everyday example

• Lead with example and teach some basics of wearing a mask. You may want to emphasize the importance of following guidelines to keep others safe.
• Parents can help their child better understand and adjust to everyday mask wearing by wearing one themselves at home, when entering buildings, and while being in situations outside when it is difficult to maintain a six feet distance to others.
• Wearing a mask for extended periods of time can be challenging. Try to notice if you are about to talk about frustrations or struggles you are having about wearing a mask in front of your child so you can stop. Limiting talk about these topics can prevent or limit your child receiving mixed messages.

Normalize the experience of wearing masks

• Reminding the child that there are many items we wear daily to stay safe can provide a way to look at wearing masks as part of the new normal to protect each other and ourselves. For example, we protect our feet with footwear, put on layers and a coat when it is cold, wear a seat restraint in the car, wear a helmet when riding a bike, and apply sunscreen before spending time outdoors.
• Playing “spot it” games with your child when outside is a way to help your child notice that others are wearing masks too. “Can you find a person in a red shirt wearing a mask?” or “Can you find three people in shorts wearing a black mask?” are just two examples of this game.

Provide your child with choices

• You may increase your child’s motivation to wear a mask if your child has opportunity to make choices and be part of making decisions about which mask to wear.
  

  

• Have your child try masks with different designs. There may be a preference for a mask with ear loops, ties on the back of the head, adjustable straps, gaiter style, with or without nose bridge, etc. Your child may find that some masks can be uncomfortable to wear. There are accessories available that may make masks more comfortable to wear such as ear savers, a headband or hat with button on each side to attach loops to, as well as masks made to minimize glasses fogging.

Practice wearing a mask at home

• Your child may need to build endurance for wearing a mask if it is recommended or required that your child wear a mask for extended periods of time at school or in other activities.
• Younger children may benefit from seeing masks in the home, spending time touching masks, and having their stuffed animals or dolls wearing masks while playing with them before placing a mask on their own face. Start with having your child holding a mask to their face before wearing a mask. You may want to limit the length of time your child is wearing a mask to ease your child into getting used to the mask. Your child can practice wearing a mask when playing or during other fun activities. A next step may involve keeping the mask on while watching a show or playing a game on TV or using an electronic device. Further normalizing mask wearing may then move on the wearing a mask while driving in the car. Look for snippets of time and different activities during which your child could wear a mask as your child’s mask wearing endurance builds.
• Wearing a mask more often and for longer periods of time will increase the likelihood that your child will get used to and tolerate wearing a mask.
  

  

Reinforce your child’s effort with praise or rewards

• There are many ways you can encourage your child’s willingness to wear a mask. One of those ways is to positively reinforce mask wearing behavior. Positive reinforcement is an effective way to establish new behaviors and it can come at no monetary cost. For example, be generous with verbal praise during and right after the time your child is wearing a mask. Also remind your child that them wearing a mask is helping others stay healthy.
• Sometimes children may struggle with establishing new habits. Reinforcement beyond praise may be necessary if your child is having a hard time with mask wearing behavior. You may want to decide on a reward system with your child that includes rewards that are a privilege or of tangible nature. For example,
• Have compassion for your child and yourself as you work together on your child’s mask wearing. Keep in mind that wearing a mask is an entirely new behavior being introduced to your child. It can take a lot of practice and time before your child experiences success with wearing a mask, especially for extended periods of time.

Others’ situation may be different

• Prepare your child for the possibility that there may be others (students, teachers, other staff, etc.) in the building where your child attends daycare or school who are not wearing a mask. When talking about this, it may be helpful to explain that there are some people who have specific health conditions or developmental delay that are advised by their medical provider not to wear a mask. You may also want to talk about that infants and toddlers are not old enough to wear a mask if your child is attending day care. Emphasize that you and your child are fortunate to be able to wear a face mask and that your mask wearing is a part of providing some protection for the people advised not to wear a mask.

If you have concerns that wearing a mask may be medically contraindicated for your child due to your child’s young age, health condition, or developmental delay, speaking to your medical provider about their recommendations is encouraged. There is guidance on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website regarding who should and should not wear a face covering: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html

You may want to seek advice from an anxiety specialist if you or your child are experiencing anxiety about wearing a mask. Aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Enhancement would be useful for increasing the amount of time a child would be willing to wear a face mask and decrease related anxiety.