Masks on children

[jackie011]

As more schools release their plans, and many in our area are requiring masks, we are getting questions as to whether or not we’re going to require masks in our center. The medical guidelines I’ve read say it is a definite yes for elementary and up, and more of a gray area for the 2-5 year old children. All adults in our building wear masks when indoors.

[VillainV]

I wish our school district was making it mandatory. I think this is one of those things that can be taught and modeled until it becomes second nature. I think masks are going to be for these kids what seat-belts were for our generation — they are going to be so used to it that it’s completely normal. I don’t think the kids need to wear them ALL the time, but definitely any time they can’t maintain social distancing. But right now our district is just “encouraging” it. So.

I’m not sure how I feel for very young kids. I think 5-year olds can probably handle it and 2-year olds maybe not. But I’m not sure when it should be required.

[InBetweenDays]

DD (14) is volunteering for 4 weeks this summer as a counselor in training at our neighborhood boy and girls club. All the kids there are required to wear them indoors.

Our school district hasn't sent anything definitive yet, but we have a state mandate to wear masks indoors for anyone over the age of 5 (ages 3-5 highly encouraged). So I'm sure the schools and pre-schools will follow that.

[numbers]

Yes, for ages 3+.

[gretchenindisguise]

A is in preschool and they are mandating masks for staff, but not for students. That said, every kid wears one on at drop off and seem overall ok with it. I'm hopeful for my kids being able to wear them at school this fall without a ton of fuss.

[Susie]

DD (4.5) has to wear one through the federal building to the center door within the building, but not inside the center. DS (1) doesn't at all of course.

The one I made her fits relatively well, but I made it with behind the head elastic and she struggles with on/off. Would she probably have an easier time if I replace that with ear loops?

[magpie]

Our district said they will require masks for both students and teachers when we go back to face to face (as it is, they've committed to fully virtual until labor day at least). They are providing them and allowing kids to bring their own. They also mentioned that teachers will get face shields, but it's unclear to me if you wear a face shield and a mask or if the face shield is enough (I'd love it if anyone knows this!).

In addition to requiring masks for all staff and parents at drop off/pick up, my son's daycare/preschoo, which is operating now, is requiring masks for the pre-k students. I bumped into the pre-k lead teacher the other day and asked her how it's been going with the masks and she said it's been no big deal and that the kids adjusted quickly. She is admittedly amazing at getting 4 and 5 year olds to do whatever she needs them to, but this made me hopeful for when my own school meets back face to face. Also, if my younger son starts wearing a mask to pre-k without any drama, my daughter (who is going into 1st grade) will have to rise to the challenge whenever we go back, lol.

[lessel]

Jul 9, 2020 19:09:12 GMT -5 VillainV said:

I think this is one of those things that can be taught and modeled until it becomes second nature.

I totally agree with this. Our 5yo went from hell no, to “that’s a cool shark mask,” to wearing a mask (with sharks or not) willingly and without complaint. He’s only wore it for 30ish minutes at a time so far. I don’t think he’ll wear it perfectly when school starts and I think he’ll probably fiddle with it more than is ideal. And he’ll have to be reminded about it. But kids will get better and better with them until it’s not a big deal.

Meanwhile, we can get one on our 2yo if big brother does it too. But then he chews on it. 😝 So compliance with that age group is gonna be way harder.

[thebreakfastclub]

My 7yo son started back in May with no mask, but they became required as of this week. He thinks it's cool to wear.

[wesleycrusher]

Jul 9, 2020 19:43:28 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

My 7yo son started back in May with no mask, but they became required as of this week. He thinks it's cool to wear.

Same. My 7 yos started back to the the daycare where they do summer care/after school care at the end of May, and yesterday I evening I got an email that as of  today all kids over the age of 2 should be masked. Prior to this only teachers were masked. 

I sent the kids with masks today, they told me they didn't wear them most of the day because they were the only ones with masks. I'll be honest and say that I do not think the school will do a great job enforcing masking. 

[thebreakfastclub]

Jul 9, 2020 19:56:11 GMT -5 wesleycrusher said:

Jul 9, 2020 19:43:28 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

My 7yo son started back in May with no mask, but they became required as of this week. He thinks it's cool to wear.

Same. My 7 yos started back to the the daycare where they do summer care/after school care at the end of May, and yesterday I evening I got an email that as of  today all kids over the age of 2 should be masked. Prior to this only teachers were masked. 

I sent the kids with masks today, they told me they didn't wear them most of the day because they were the only ones with masks. I'll be honest and say that I do not think the school will do a great job enforcing masking. 

My daycare provides them so that helps.

[joy]

Our daycare encourages masks but if the child doesn’t want to wear it, they let it go.

[Velar Fricative]

When our daycare called us today to mention they are reopening in August, they mentioned that masks need to be brought in by parents for each child but that they are not going to enforce perfect mask-wearing for kids. DD2 just turned 3 and oddly enough loves wearing masks, but even I can’t see her wearing it for hours on end. They will just help them create habits and of course the adults are all mandated to wear them.

[jackie011]

Jul 9, 2020 19:59:54 GMT -5 joy said:

Our daycare encourages masks but if the child doesn’t want to wear it, they let it go.

This is where we are right now. There are only 4 families (out of 120+) that have even asked about it, though we expect more will bring it up as people are trying to decide what to do. 

[noodleoo]

DD1 is back at daycare and they are requiring them for her class. She’s 5 and she adapted very quickly to it. We started having her wear it probably at least a month before school started when we started playing with the neighbor kids. She didn’t like it at first but got used to it pretty fast. That worked great because she had no issue at all with wearing it at school.

DD2 is under 2 so she doesn’t have to wear one. I’m not user when she will need to start. But she tried to put DD1’s mask on the other day so I think she feels left out. 😂

[loira]

DD is 4.5 and will be going back to preschool in the fall. They will not require masks. We do have masks for her and she happily wears them grocery shopping etc. The preschool will have a strict "stay home if unwell" that will probably apply to common colds even without fever, and I'm glad. For background, our province is doing well and nearing phase 3 of reopening.

[Mrs.flang]

Jul 9, 2020 19:59:54 GMT -5 joy said:

Our daycare encourages masks but if the child doesn’t want to wear it, they let it go.

Same. But I’m not sure how much they really do encourage it. DD1 is almost 4 and doesn’t ever wear the one we left for her, but I do see other kids wearing them. We don’t really take her anywhere else so we haven’t had to practice.

[scm1011]

In DS (3) ‘s daycare class it is required. He has adapted well. I know some of his classmates are having a harder time.

[imimahoney]

Massachusetts says grade 2 and up so that's what my pre-k is following. Kids are asked to bring a mask for close activities but are not required to wear it all day. My daughter (5) is going to their summer program and was asked to put in on twice in the 2 days she was there.

[joy]

Jul 9, 2020 19:59:54 GMT -5 joy said:

Our daycare encourages masks but if the child doesn’t want to wear it, they let it go.

Sorry - as a follow up - most kids are wearing them. My three year old refused every attempt before arriving at daycare the first day. She saw all the other kids in them and put it right on.

[keweenawlove]

At my 3YO's daycare, only the adults are masked. We've been working on getting DD used to one because I'm sure she'll have to wear one at some point. She likes it but pushes it down after like 5 seconds and calls it her beard....

[pandorica]

DD is at an in home, and no one wears masks (kids or adults). Saw a parent go in without a mask on the other day too 😠

[erbear]

It will be mandatory in my classroom, even if my school punts on it. Sorry not sorry.

[VillainV]

Jul 10, 2020 10:50:44 GMT -5 erbear said:

It will be mandatory in my classroom, even if my school punts on it. Sorry not sorry.

Hold the line. I hope that our teachers will insist on masks even if the school district won’t.

[Dznyprnces]

My preschool re-opened for our summer program at the beginning of June. Masks are recommended for kids 3+, but not required. I took the summer off, but it seems most kids are not wearing them. Our county just issued a mask mandate, in effect for 3 months, this week. I’m not sure what that means for kids 3+ in our center, if they are now required to wear them or not.

[CheeringCharm]

Our kids have been wearing masks all day at camp. It’s required in NY at their aged but I figure it is also good practice for when school starts again.

They’re used to the masks now and say they forget they’re wearing them. I think I have a harder time wearing one than they do. It’s funny how quickly humans, esp. kids, can adapt to new circumstances.

[jackie011]

Jul 10, 2020 10:50:44 GMT -5 erbear said:

It will be mandatory in my classroom, even if my school punts on it. Sorry not sorry.

What age?

[dcn]

Kids 10 and under do not have to wear them here at camp etc. If school goes back I’d prefer kids over 3 to wear them.

[erbear]

Jul 10, 2020 12:14:43 GMT -5 jackie011 said:

Jul 10, 2020 10:50:44 GMT -5 erbear said:

It will be mandatory in my classroom, even if my school punts on it. Sorry not sorry.

What age?

middle school. 8th graders. I'm higher risk because of an underlying health condition. If I've going to be in a classroom with kids, we're all washing hands before we come in and everyone is wearing a mask.

[simpsongal]

Not required at daycare, I think they will be at public school (k-12).

I can barely get my 3 yr old to wear underwear and other clothes, so I'm sort of thankful. But DCPs can work magic, so I wouldn't object to a mask requirement if they could get her to comply.