{"id":59018,"date":"2021-08-25T16:33:27","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T20:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=59018"},"modified":"2021-08-25T16:36:10","modified_gmt":"2021-08-25T20:36:10","slug":"cant-get-your-kid-to-wear-a-mask-here-are-5-things-you-can-try","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/cant-get-your-kid-to-wear-a-mask-here-are-5-things-you-can-try\/","title":{"rendered":"Can\u2019t get your kid to wear a mask? Here are 5 things you can try"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\ufeff<\/span>Let\u2019s face it, none of us actually enjoys wearing a mask. And it\u2019s even harder when you\u2019re a parent trying to get your kids masked up, as well as yourself.<\/p>\n

Victoria<\/a>,\u00a0New South Wales<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Australian Capital Territory<\/a>\u00a0now require everyone over the age of 12 to wear a mask whenever they leave their home, unless they are exercising. This mandate includes in high schools in\u00a0NSW<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Victoria<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In parts of\u00a0Queensland<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0South Australia<\/a>, children 12 to 17 years also need to wear a face mask if they\u2019re indoors and can\u2019t socially distance.<\/p>\n

Children should not wear\u00a0masks while exercising<\/a>. And children under two years old should also not wear masks, as they are a\u00a0choking and suffocation<\/a>\u00a0risk.<\/p>\n

Parents can decide if children between the ages of five and 12 should wear a mask. But, the World Health Organization says children\u00a0under five years old should not be required to wear masks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There is\u00a0ample<\/a>\u00a0evidence<\/a>\u00a0showing masks help keep children and\u00a0young people<\/a>\u00a0safe<\/a>. Plus, unlike the\u00a0earlier stages of the pandemic<\/a>\u00a0when kids weren\u2019t contracting or transmitting the virus as much as adults, we are now seeing\u00a0many cases in children<\/a>\u00a0of the Delta variant. Although, thankfully, serious disease among young people is still rare.<\/p>\n

Here are five things you can do to encourage your kids to wear a mask.<\/p>\n

1. Model wearing one<\/h4>\n

One of the best things you can do to encourage your kids to mask up is to\u00a0model mask wearing<\/a>. Show your child it is OK to wear a mask; it is \u201cnormal\u201d.<\/p>\n

2. Empathise with their feelings<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If your child is reluctant to wear a mask, you can empathise with their feelings. Nobody likes wearing masks. Children\u00a0rely on facial gestures<\/a>\u00a0to communicate, and many have sensory issues that can make wearing masks uncomfortable. Reflecting back to your child that you know this is hard for them helps them feel understood.<\/p>\n

Find out why they don\u2019t want to wear a mask. It might be they get\u00a0sore ears or a headache<\/a>. If so, masks that tie behind the head can be helpful. If it\u2019s fogged glasses, a better fitting mask, or a\u00a0mask clip<\/a>, may help.<\/p>\n

The internet is full of\u00a0mask hacks<\/a>\u00a0to help make masks more comfortable. Some are as simple as using\u00a0hair clips<\/a>\u00a0in the loops to extend the length of the mask.<\/p>\n

3. Help them understand the science<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Kids may be more\u00a0willing<\/a>\u00a0to wear a mask if they understand why they need to. When children understand why a behaviour is important to their\u00a0health<\/a>, they\u00a0are more likely to comply<\/a>. Older children may be interested in the science of mask wearing.<\/p>\n

There are many resources \u2014 including easy to understand\u00a0YouTube videos\u00a0\u2014 that can help.
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