Helping Kids Understand When and How to Wear a Mask: A New Social Rule

mother son

As we begin to see parts of our country reduce restrictions (for better or worse), there are likely to be obvious changes in what social rules look like. This may be something that neurotypical and older children tolerate well. For younger children and those with disabilities, understanding the new “rules” for how to behave and what to expected in public may be more difficult. In many places, people are wearing masks when they’re in public because of COVID-19. At the Kids BRAIN office, all patients and staff will be wearing masks when in the office as well. There are certainly going to be impacts on how we can connect for testing (which is all that we are doing in person; everything else will be done virtually). Many of us take for granted how much social information we gather from watching other people’s facial movements and expressions as they add to the words that are said. In this time (maybe even for a while), wearing a mask is an important way to help slow the spread of the virus.

At first, it was mostly doctors, nurses, and others in health care settings who wore masks. But now, as other people wear them, more and more kids are seeing something they’re not used to seeing. For them, it can be strange or a little scary, especially if they need to put on masks too. There are steps that can be taken to make this process easier. Most kids can feel comfortable seeing people in masks, as long as adults:

  • Use simple words to explain why people are wearing masks.
  • Give kids time to look, watch, and get used to what’s new.
  • Answer kids’ questions.
  • Give support.

Some toddlers and young children may feel uneasy about masks. They may need extra support and comfort from parents. Parents also can help kids understand why they might need to wear a mask, and make them more comfortable and even fun to wear. How kids react to seeing masks partly depends on their age. Older kids might not react much at all. To them, masks might seem like no big deal. Most are able to adjust pretty quickly. Some kids may even be eager to wear a mask, especially those who readily use pretend play or enjoy taking on different roles.

But for babies, toddlers, and young kids, seeing people in masks might take some getting used to. At first, they may feel cautious. They may need a few minutes to look and watch. That can help them get used to what’s new. They may need a parent to gently offer reassurance and to let them stay close or seek comfort. It is important to be positive and let your child take the lead. If they don’t seem fearful, assume everything if OK and send the message that things are fine in your own responses and behaviors. Some babies, toddlers, and young kids may feel upset or afraid. They might cry, hide their face, or cling to a parent. Soothing words, comfort, and the safety of a parent’s lap can help calm them.

Masks hide part of a person’s face. Young children rely on faces. From the time they are babies, young children look at faces for the signals they need to feel safe. When faces are partly hidden by masks, kids can’t see the friendly smile or familiar look that usually puts them at ease. When kids can’t see the person’s whole face, it’s harder to feel safe. It’s natural to feel scared. But slowly and gently, parents can help kids feel more comfortable. Even very young kids can learn that something that seemed too scary at first is not so scary after all. Many healthcare workers will use more child friendly personal protection, like masks and gowns with cartoons or silly faces. At the Kids BRAIN office, we are using similar methods to make masks feel less threatening for the younger children.

Cloth face coverings (or a face mask, if you have one) on adults and kids over 2 years old can help slow the spread of the virus. Here are some ways to help kids wear masks when you go out:

  • 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. Specific focus on how to wear the mask appropriate will be needed. Check out this video of Dr. Sanjay Gupta giving a lesson on how to wear a mask to Elmo.
  • Encourage kids to decorate their mask. 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, and make it more likely they’ll want to wear their mask. Depending on the type of mask, kids can draw on it with markers or put stickers on it.
  • Make them together. If you make 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.
  • Help make it fun. With younger kids, introduce a sense of play. Kids can pretend to be a doctor or nurse while wearing their masks. They might want to use a doctor kit and “take care” of a stuffed animal or doll.
  • Have a few masks handy while kids play. This lets them use their imagination about how to use them during playtime. It also helps make masks a more normal part of their everyday world. You can ask your child to put a mask on a stuffed animal, and then ask follow-up questions about why the stuffed animal is wearing the mask. Depending on your child’s response, you can clear up any confusion and offer reassurance.

Children with disabilities may need more specific and simplified assistance in understanding and using a mask. Check out the below options for social stories and other disability friendly ways to communicate the need to maintain social distance, wear masks, and keep safe from illness. Children and adolescents with autism have varied individual experiences, preferences and needs, so although some kids can’t tolerate a mask, others are just fine with it. But before requiring them to put one on, consider the factors that may make masks intolerable or inadvisable for an autistic person:

Anxiety: A mask doesn’t block breathing, but it does change the feeling of one’s airflow. For some children and adolescents with autism, this may feel like suffocation and increase levels of stress and anxiety.

Sensory: Some kids can’t bear the feeling of mask elastics pulling on their ears or the pressure of fabric pressing against the nose and mouth. There are adjustments that can be made. Maybe your child will tolerate a rigid mask that offers a bigger gap in front of the mouth (like a dust mask). Others benefit from a strap that connects the elastic ear portion behind the head. You could do this with a little piece of yarn or ribbon as well.

Visibility: If your child wears glasses, masks may fog them up. There are fixes, such as tucking a tissue between the mask and the bridge of your nose or changing your breathing pattern, but these solutions may not work for people with sensory issues or developmental disabilities. Most masks with a metal piece at the bridge of the nose will offer less fogging, especially if you pull the glasses forward slightly so they sit just below the edge of the mask instead of sitting behind it.

Smell: Children and adolescents with autism can be extra sensitive to smell, so be sure your child brushes their teeth before trying on a mask. Consider use of a mint or piece of gum to help with mask usage over longer intervals.

Social story about wearing masks https://www.autismlittlelearners.com/2020/04/seeing-people-wearing-masks-story.html

Share:

More Posts

Info Form

Please share your information so you can learn about the services we provide at Kids BRAIN

Info Form

Please share your information so you can learn about the services we provide at Kids BRAIN