5 Easy Tips to Encourage Your Child to Wear a Mask
Whether your child is heading to school for in-class learning or you’re just taking a trip to the grocery store with your kid, you’re going to have to convince them to wear a mask in public at some point in time.
And if you’ve ever worn a mask for an extended period of time, you know they can get pretty uncomfortable.
That means you’re going to have to get creative when coming up with ways to encourage your child to wear their mask (and keep it on).
These five simple tips will help you convince your kid to wear their mask each time they go out.
5 Easy Tips to Encourage Your Child to Wear a Mask
Explain the Importance of Masks
We all know that every kids’ favorite word is “why.” That means it’s essential that you explain to your child why they need to wear a mask. Although you don’t have to go into the scary details behind the need for masks these days, it is important to give them a few concrete reasons why they should wear their mask:
- It protects them from getting sick.
- A mask reduces the germs your child spreads, protecting others from getting sick.
These two simple reasons are a great way to explain the need for masks to your child.
Answer Their Questions
After explaining to your child the reasoning behind wearing a mask in public, they’ll probably have questions. Answer those questions honestly to help squash any fears or concerns your child may have about wearing their mask when they’re out and about.
Make Them Feel Safe
Wearing a mask and seeing other people wear masks can be scary – especially for younger children. Masks can block others’ faces, which can be shocking to young kids. And wearing a mask can make it more difficult to breath, which could be scary, too. That means you’ll have to work hard to ensure your child that they’re safe while wearing a mask. Take the time to soothe them when they’re scared, then reiterate the importance of masks for everyone’s safety.
Practice at Home
Before your child heads out in public or to school, make sure they have time to practice wearing their mask at home. In addition to giving them time to get used to having a mask on their face for an extended period of time, this practice time also gives you a chance to help them wear their mask properly. As your child practices, make sure they:
- Keep the mask over their nose
- Avoid touching the mask with their hands
- Avoid touching their face
Be Consistent
Consistency is key in most aspects of your child’s life, and wearing a mask is no exception. To help your child become accustomed to wearing a mask, make sure you’re consistent with your child when enforcing the rules for wearing a mask in your family. And don’t forget to reward your child for doing a great job to reinforce the importance of masks and acknowledge them for a job well done!
