The latest guidelines say that wearing a non-medical face covering in public spaces where it is hard to social distance is advisable.
The government has advised people in England should wear face coverings, in ‘enclosed public spaces’, such as in shops and on public transport.
But when even adults are struggling to wear their face masks properly all the time, how can you make sure your child is properly protected?
With talk of schools reopening in the not too distant future, and lockdown measure beginning to ease, wearing face masks in public may become part of our new normal. But is it possible to get little ones to wear them without messing with them or ripping them off when you turn your back?
One of London’s leading pre-school education facilities, Abacus Ark, and Medicalsupply.co.uk, an international PPE procurement agency, have provided their top tips for children wearing a mask – what kind of masks work best for children and where and when children should be wearing them:
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What to buy
The UK guidelines urge the public not to buy medical grade masks. Medical grade
face-masks are considered as any face mask which is classified under the BS EN 14683:2019 standard.
So any kind of face covering will work – but you will want it to be comfortable for your child and not irritating. You can even make your own face masks using socks.
Where/when to wear them
It is recommended that children wear masks in places where it is hard to follow maintain social distancing measures. This applies when using public transport, such as trains, buses and metro systems, or visiting shops.
Any child who is not able to remove the masks on their own should not be wearing any face covering. It’s important the masks are not making it difficult for the child to breathe and it is safe for them.
‘Whilst wearing a mask in educational establishments is not recommended, we appreciate that you may need to try to get your child to wear a mask outside of an early years setting,’ says a spokesperson from Abacus Ark.
‘Like anything with children under 5, to get them to follow rules without a battle, you need use a combination of role modelling, consistency and making something interesting to them.’
Role modelling
You need to ensure that you role model the behaviour, highlighting when you wear a mask, or you see someone else wearing a mask.
This will create the perception that this is the correct behaviour and must be followed.
Consistency
Ensure that this is part of their regular routine. Combine putting a mask on with their regular routine e.g. shoes, coat, mask.
Ensure you follow the same steps each time. It won’t work straight away, but after a few days you’ll see it happening.
Make it fun and interesting
If you make something fun and interesting, your child will be more likely to play along.
An idea could be to decorate the mask using their favourite character from a book or something that they like to play with e.g. unicorns, trucks etc.
Where to buy face masks for children
A pack of 4 costs £35 and they have super cute designs.
The cute dinosaur doodles will keep your kid happy. Each one costs £13.
These organic cotton face masks are suitable for children aged between two and eight and cost £17 each.
These reusable masks have adorable designs and cost £8.99.
The cotton blend fabric is not only breathable but is also soft against the skin for comfort.
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