Tips For Successful Mask Wearing

Let’s talk masks! Many people assume that kids with disabilities can’t or won’t wear masks and this is far from true. Many children with disabilities will be fine wearing masks (always talk to your child’s doctor if you have safety or health concerns!). If you decide that you want your child to wear a mask but don’t know where to start, here are some friendly tips for improving their ability to wear a mask and for successful mask wearing in general. I’m not going to claim that I’m a professional at getting kids to keep masks on, because honestly, how many people can even say that??? BUT, I have successfully helped lots of kids learn to wear glasses, tolerate hats or bike helmets and increase flexibility in the kind of clothes they will wear by using strategies similar to these.

- Don’t expect your child to wear a mask for hours on end on the first try. Start with very short time periods in non stressful situations. Praise them for wearing it.

- Have some masks around the house and put them on your child from time to time casually so they can get used to it. Remove it before they get annoyed by it. Praise them for leaving it on and not touching it. Try different styles to see what is the most comfortable.

- Have your child select their own mask. A cute fabric can go a long way. Favorite character, animals, etc.. my daughter has one with rainbows and one with Bambi. She’s all about the fashion.

- When practicing mask wearing, pair wearing the mask with something awesome. Maybe your child can watch their favorite movie while wearing the mask, or wear it while playing with a preferred toy. If they pull the mask off, remove the toy or turn off the movie. Mask goes back on, movie goes back on, toy is given back. Repeat until your child understands that the fun thing they want only comes while the mask is on. Praise your child for wearing the mask. During practice sessions, try to remove it before they get too annoyed. For some kids, you may need to control the removal of the mask yourself so they can FULLY practice not touching it. If you teach your child that they can’t take the mask off just because they want to, it is less likely that they will develop a habit of messing with it. Teach them to ask to take it off before they pull it off (with words, signs, pictures, a gesture, etc..). (Note: I am NOT saying that your child should only get access to things they like while they wear a mask, this example is specifically in regards to practice sessions).

- Consider what is comfortable to your child. Some kids can’t tolerate the straps behind their ears. There are great solutions for this! Sewing buttons on to a hat, or hooking the elastic to ponytail holders are both creative solutions for kids who don’t want things touching their ears.

- Consider utilizing solutions to prevent masks from hitting the ground by being dropped. Necklaces, straps, etc can be really helpful. Again, consult with your Dr. or another profession to be sure that it is safe for your child.

- Pack extras!! Plan to change a mask on a child several times in a given outing. It’s better to have extra than to run out. (Think back to those potty training days and remember how helpful it was to have three pairs of undies and shorts in your purse).

Good luck and Mask Up!