Kids Going Back To School Need Face Mask Training, Doctors Say

The 2020 back-to-school season brings a new must-have item for kids: a face mask. A face covering is necessary to help protect kids from coronavirus and stop them from bringing COVID-19 home. However, some parents are wondering how to get their children to wear a mask all day once school reopens, and the experts have some advice.

Make It A Game: Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a pediatrician in New York City, told "Good Morning America" that kids should start wearing masks before heading back to school, but parents can make it fun.

"I've suggested they make it a game, pointing out in a playful way when they've touched their face," Bracho-Sanchez said. "I've been saying this because while we absolutely need them to wear their masks, if they're constantly touching their face with dirty hands, they may catch a number of things more easily, not only COVID-19."

Don’t expect mask wearing to last seven hours right away. It’s okay to start with three-minute increments several times a day, Bracho-Sanchez said. Connecticut Children’s recommends doing activities with a clear end point, like playing a board game or going on a hike, while masked up.

Does It Look Cool? Kids might be too young to understand the pandemic, but they definitely know what’s cool and what’s not. It’s not surprising to hear that kids may like their mask more if it has their favorite character on it. Target has Trolls, Paw Patrol, Batman and JoJo Siwa face mask multi-packs. Disney, Crayola, Etsy and other retailers have lots of options, and Children’s Mercy Kansas City suggests letting kids decorate masks with fun stickers or fabric markers.

How Does It Feel? Parents should also remember that the feeling of the fabric and elastic is important too, especially since the fit is supposed to be snug. Danielle LoVecchio, executive director of Bridge Kids New York and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, told "GMA" that parents should make sure little ones with sensory issues feel the mask first. “Rub the material on the child's hands and then face to ensure comfortability and acclimate to the new texture before requiring them to wear the mask on their face,” she noted.

While elastic around the ears isn’t the most comfortable, kids should get used to the feeling before going back to school. Make sure that they can take the mask on and off easily for snacks and lunch.

Join Them: Kids follow examples. Parents using their masks as chin guards or ditching them while still inside can expect their children to do the same. Experts even suggest wearing them around the house while the child is practicing adjusting to wearing their own face covering.

“Modeling mask wearing is also important; children are more likely to wear their own mask if they see the adults around them doing so,” Sara Johnson, associate professor of pediatrics and public health at Johns Hopkins Schools of Medicine and Public Health, told NBC.

Remember, parents aren’t their only models. Put a mask on their favorite stuffed animal or find a photo of their favorite superhero wearing a face covering to help encourage them.