Insights: Masks for Children

School will look different for students this year. School operations will differ from state to state and district to district. And plans are likely to change during the year as COVID-19 case counts go up or down within each state. 

Families will need to continue to be flexible to manage the rapid changes that impact their children and then their own work schedules in a trickle-down effect. 

Following the guidelines

Federal and state officials are watching the spread of the virus and making recommendations to help contain it. Many of the recommendations have become a trigger for hostility among people who disagree with them or believe the guidelines are politically based. 

To be fair, the guidelines have not been consistent and clear, and officials have periodically disagreed among themselves and even contradicted the recommendations. 

We have all felt the impact of the changes from coronavirus. It is in our best interest to follow the latest sound advice on how to protect ourselves and those around us. Even if we disagree, the cost of following the guidelines is small compared to escalating disputes with our neighbors and the opportunity to set a good example for our children. 

The case for masks

Official healthcare experts agree on one universal recommendation for almost everyone: wear a mask. They say masks are intended to contain virus germs droplets and protect others — even more than protecting the wearer. 

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends non-medical cloth face masks. It is a hot-button issue for many, but it seems like a small gesture that may help prevent illness to reduce the risk of death and help us resume normal life as soon as possible. It appears too trivial to cause opposition that results in violence, public tantrums and threats. 

Regardless of our personal opinions about masks, they are required for entrance to many public spaces, including a growing number of schools. 

If our kids want to go back to school, and we all want them to go back to school, we will need to agree to follow the rules. Mask-wearing may be one of them, and it won’t be easy. Some kids can’t keep their shoes on all day. Imagine the challenge of keeping their mask in place. But we have to try. 

Mask Management

Schools and teachers are responsible for so much more than academics. This year, they will also be responsible for the critical job of mask management. Dr. Orscheln, an associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, offers the following tips for safe schools with masks: 

•	Mask usage is important for students older than nine, but all students should wear one in common school areas.
•	Students must understand the importance of not sharing or trading masks. 
•	Masks should come with a lanyard to help students keep them within easy reach.
•	Adults should model wearing masks and repeat this safety message: “This is how we keep each other safe.”
www.edweek.org

Politics aside, mask-wearing is not that difficult. Here is guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics to help make it easier:

•	Children under two years old should not wear a mask.
•	Masks should be worn in any place where it is not possible to stay six feet away from others and when they are required for entrance.
•	Children don’t need a mask at home if there has been no COVID-19 exposure.
•	Children do not need to wear a mask outside if they are not within six feet of others. Please remind children not to touch surfaces that others have touched, including drinking fountains, tables, etc.
•	Reconsider cloth masks if there is a choking or strangulation hazard or if it causes your child to touch his or her face more frequently. 

If your young child is scared of wearing a face covering, try these tips:
•	Look in the mirror with the face coverings on and talk about it.
•	Put a cloth face covering on a favorite stuffed animal.
•	Decorate them so they are more personalized and fun.
•	Show your child pictures of other children wearing them.
•	Draw one on their favorite book character.
•	Practice wearing the face covering at home to help your child get used to it.
•	For children over three, focus on germs. Explain that germs are special to your own body. Some germs and good and some are bad. Since we can’t tell which are good or bad, the cloth face coverings help keep those germs away.
https://bit.ly/3gqW879

Getting your mask

There has been a shortage of medical-grade N-95 masks for healthcare workers. 
Cloth masks are sufficient to meet mask requirements. You can buy them at stores like Walmart and Target. You can also make them yourself with simple sewing skills. Do an internet search for easy directions. 

The bottom line is that health experts recommend masks to reduce the spread of the virus, and they are required in most public places. Help make a difficult and uncertain school year easier by ensuring that children are ready to comply with mask rules.