Taking precautions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 is extremely important. For parents who are going through this difficult time with children who don’t fully understand the magnitude of the virus, it can make things challenging.

Getting your children to wash their hands doesn’t seem to be the end of the world, but getting them to wear masks in public can be a little more challenging. Here are some helpful tips to encourage your children to wear a mask.

Combine Mask Wearing With Playtime

One of the most important factors in making your children feel comfortable with a mask is normalizing it.

When they have their toys out, put a mask on their favourite stuffed animal or find some colouring books & pages that include people wearing masks. This will encourage your children to wear masks without thinking it’s a chore.

Purchase A Mask With Some Of Your Child’s Favourite Characters/Colors On It

A bland facemask from the hospital or clinic isn’t going to spark any form of excitement in your children. Purchase a fun mask with colourful designs or some of your child’s favourite TV or book characters on it.

Think about the excitement your children feel when they receive a new shirt or hat that features these characters. Receiving a new mask with a favourite character can be just as exciting.

Make The Mask Comfortable For Your Children

One common complaint when it comes to wearing a mask is the discomfort one may experience. When wearing a mask for longer periods of time, it can be quite uncomfortable.

You can add buttons or ribbons to the mask, making it more comfortable for your children. While making the mask easier and more comfortable to wear, you can make it fun and stylish as well.

You can even turn it into a small arts and crafts project!

Encourage Your Child To Feel Empowered

By giving your children different tasks to perform, they will feel more empowered and more likely to keep the mask on. When grocery shopping asks for their help in pick out items, this will keep their hands off of their face and make them feel like they’re helping.

Ask for help with your mask. And, ask that your child help remind other family members to remember their masks before heading out the door. By giving them this task, they will feel a sense of helpfulness & empowerment and will be more likely to want to wear their masks, too.

Wear Your Mask

This is an important one. Children look up to their parents & guardians.  They think they’re superheroes! This is a perfect time to lead by example and show your kids that there’s nothing wrong with wearing a mask and that it’s a way of showing our respect and care for others around us.

We hope that these tips can help ease your child into the idea of wearing masks. If you have had any success with these ideas or others, please do share them in the comments section in hopes that it will help other families as well!