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A Toolkit for Helping Your Child Wear a Mask During COVID-19

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A Toolkit for Helping Your Child Wear a Mask During COVID-19

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From: Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities

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Mask-Wearing-Toolkit Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities – A Toolkit for Helping Your Child Wear a Mask During COVID-19

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This document shares tips for helping kids wear masks.

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As we all face more changes in plans, every family's experiences and decisions will vary. You can help children learn to listen, practice compassion and respect, and build empathy and other social-emotional skills.

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The Big Idea: The more you know, the healthier you can stay.

All About Masks

Launch All About Masks

Stop the spread of germs by spreading these messages on social media (you can use the suggested text below).

The @SesameStreet friends are here to share the "do's" and don'ts" of wearing a face mask to help keep others healthy! #InItTogether #CaringForEachOther

Wearing a mask is one way to show you care for others. Toddlers can practice putting masks on stuffed animals or dolls at home! #InItTogether #CaringForEachOther

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All About Masks | Sesame Street in Communities

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The Big Idea: The more you know, the healthier you can stay. All About Masks Launch All About Masks Stop the spread of germs by spreading these messages on social media (you can use the suggested text below). The @SesameStreet friends are here to share the "do's" and don'ts" of wearing a face mask to help keep others healthy!

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Ensuring Young Children’s Well-being and Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Thriving Childcare: Ensuring young children's well-being and health during the COVID-19 pandemic - Zero to Thrive

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Masks or Cloth Face Coverings for Children During COVID-19 

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Masks or Cloth Face Coverings for Children During COVID-19 

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​To protect ourselves and others from COVID-19, the CDC recommends wearing face masks around anyone you don't live with or who may have the virus. But what about children?

Read on for answers to some frequently asked questions about masks and children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why do we still need to wear face masks?

It is possible to have COVID-19 but not have any symptoms. That's why wearing face masks is still so important. Masks reduce the chance of spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This is especially true for when someone with COVID-19 comes within 6 feet of you, close enough to transmit infection through sneezing or coughing.

Should children wear masks?

Yes. Face masks can be safely worn by all children 2 years of age and older, including most children with special health conditions, with rare exception.

Children should not wear a mask if they are under 2 years old, however, because of suffocation risk. Also, anyone unconscious or unable to remove a face covering on their own should not wear one.

When do children need to wear masks?

Children age 2 and older, with rare exception, should wear masks when they are: ​​

In childcare, at school & other group activities. For a safe return to school, child care and other group activities, all children over age 2 and adults there must wear face masks. Face masks are also important to wear during most sports.

Unable to stay 6 feet away from others, both indoors and outdoors. Examples include at school, child care, a playground, park, or grocery store.

If you have a medically fragile child or an at-risk adult in your household, you may want to consider having everyone wear masks at home to help protect them. ​

How do I help my child get used to wearing a mask?

It is understandable if your child seems afraid of wearing a mask at first. Here are a few ideas that might help make them more comfortable:

Look in the mirror with the face mask on and talk about it.

Put a mask on a favorite stuffed animal.

Decorate them so they're more personalized and fun.

Show your child pictures of other children wearing them.

Draw one on their favorite book character.

Practice wearing the face mask at home to help your child get used to it.

For children under 3, it's best to answer their questions simply in language they understand. If they ask about why people are wearing face masks, explain that sometimes people need to wear them to stay healthy.

For children over 3, try focusing on germs. Explain that germs are special to your own body. Some germs and good and some are bad. The bad ones can make you sick. Since we can't always tell which are good or bad, the face masks help make sure you keep those germs away from your own body.

The good news is, as people continue to wear face masks, children have gotten used to them and are less likely to feel singled out or strange about wearing them. It has quickly become the "new normal" for all of us.

What about children with special health care needs?

Children with weakened immune systems or who have health conditions that put that at high risk for infections are encouraged to wear an N95 mask for protection.

Children with medical conditions that interfere with cognitive or lung function may have a hard time tolerating a face mask. For these children, special precautions may be needed.

Is there a "right way" to wear a mask?

Yes. Place the mask securely over the mouth and nose and stretch it from ear to ear. It should fit snugly along the sides of the face without ang gaps. It can be held on with ear loops or ties. Remember to wash hands before and after wearing it and avoid touching it once it's on. When back home, avoid touching the front of the face mask by taking it off from behind.

Wash and completely dry cloth face masks after each wearing.

Note: Face masks should not be worn when eating or drinking. Also, make sure the mask has no choking or strangulation hazards for young children.

What kind of face mask​ is best?

Face masks with multiple layers of fabric are fine for most people to wear. Try to find the right size for your child's face. Adult masks are usually 6x12 inches, and even a child-sized 5x10 inch covering may be too large for small children.

How do I keep my child from touching their face mask?

It may be challenging for very young children not to fidget with their face mask, so expect to give your child plenty of gentle reminders. When mask-wearing is reinforced by adults and peers, they will learn to follow directions. Just like children understand that they must wear bicycle helmets and buckle into their car seats, they will learn to wear masks correctly and routinely when needed.

How do I protect my baby who is too young for a ​mask?

The best way to protect your baby is to practice physical distan​​cing, and encourage people who are around your baby to wear face masks and take other measures to reduce COVID-19 risk.

Remember

Along with physical distancing, hand washing and vaccination when it becomes available, mask wearing is key to reducing ​SARS-CoV-2 infection and spread. Children who are sick (fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, diarrhea, or vomiting) should stay home. If you have any concerns about your child's health, talk with your pediatrician.

More Information

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covid masks~ covid-19 masks~ masks for kids~ face mask for kids~ kids mask size~ mask recommendations~ cloth face covering~ coronavirus~ covid 19

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​To protect ourselves and others from COVID-19, the CDC recommends wearing face masks around anyone you don't live with or who may have the virus. But what about children? Read on for answers to some frequently asked questions about masks and children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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5 Common Misconceptions about Kids & Cloth Face Coverings

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By: Kimberly M. Dickinson, MD, MPH & Theresa W. Guilbert, MD, MS, FAAP

Face masks are still an important tool for many families to help prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This includes new and more contagious variants.

Masks help protect unvaccinated and vaccinated people, and are important for individuals to use in areas where the COVID-19 Community Level is high. Masks can be safely worn by all children older than 2 years. Individuals may choose to continue wearing face masks when they go out so they can protect themselves or their family members.

Some parents may have concerns about face masks, and we're here to help. Here are some common questions, along with the facts about kids and masks that will put your mind at ease:

Do masks make it harder for my child to breathe?

There have been concerns that face masks can reduce oxygen intake, and can lead to low blood oxygen levels, known as hypoxemia. However, masks are made from breathable materials that will not block the oxygen your child needs. Masks have not been shown to affect a child's ability to focus or learn in school. The vast majority of children age 2 or older can safely wear face masks for extended periods of time, such as during preschool or at child care. This includes most children with special health care needs.

Can masks interfere with a child's lung development?

No, wearing a face mask will not affect your child 's lungs from developing normally. This is because oxygen flows through and around the mask, while blocking the spray of spit and respiratory droplets that may contain the virus. Keeping your child's lungs healthy is important, which includes preventing infections like COVID-19.

Do masks trap the carbon dioxide that we normally breathe out?

No. There have been false reports that face masks can lead to carbon dioxide poisoning (known as hypercapnia) from re-breathing the air we normally breathe out. But this is not true. Carbon dioxide molecules are very tiny, even smaller than respiratory droplets. They cannot be trapped by breathable materials like disposable masks. In fact, surgeons wear tight fitting masks all day as part of their jobs, without any harm.

Children under 2 years of age should not wear masks since they may not be able to remove them without help. Children with severe breathing problems or cognitive impairments may also have a hard time tolerating a face mask and extra precautions may be needed.

Can masks lead to a weaker immune system by putting the body under stress?

No. Wearing a face mask does not weaken your immune system or increase your chances of getting sick if exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Wearing a mask, even if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19, helps prevent the virus from spreading.

How do masks prevent the spread of COVID-19?

When worn correctly, face masks create a barrier that reduces the spray of a person's spit and respiratory droplets. These droplets play a key role in the spread of COVID-19 because they can carry SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Masks also can protect you from others who may have coronavirus but are not showing symptoms and who could come within 6 feet of you, which is how far respiratory droplets can travel when people sneeze or cough or raise their voices.

Another benefit of wearing masks is that they may keep people from touching their mouths and faces, which is another way COVID, colds, flu and RSV and other respiratory diseases are spread.

Remember

Masks are an important strategy to prevent COVID from spreading, especially as new contagious variants circulate. Masks are safe and effective for anyone age 2 years or older. Don't hesitate to talk with your child's pediatrician if you have any questions about your child wearing face masks.

More information

About Dr. Dickinson

Kimberly M. Dickinson, MD, MPH, FAAP, a pediatric pulmonary fellow at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., is a past member of the AAP Section on Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine Trainee Subcommittee.

About Dr. Guilbert

Theresa W. Guilbert, MD, MS, FAAP, is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati and director of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Asthma Center in the Pulmonary Division. She is a member of the AAP Section on Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine Executive Committee.

American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine (Copyright © 2020)

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Mask Mythbusters: Common Questions about Kids & Face Masks

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Cut through all the misinformation with these 5 common questions about kids and masks, along with evidence-based information that will put your mind at ease.​

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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly endorses the use of safe and effective infection control procedures to protect children.

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How the Stress of COVID News Affects How Kids Learn and Think

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How the Stress of COVID News Affects How Kids Learn and Think

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Being exposed to bad or stressful news all the time can affect learning.

It’s especially hard for kids who struggle with focus.

Most kids will process the news over time without any lasting impact.

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At a glance

Being exposed to tragic or stressful news can affect kids in many ways.

It's especially hard for some kids who learn and think differently.

Certain challenges get in the way of processing information and emotions.

The last few years have been full of scary news for kids, from racial injustice to gun violence to the war in Ukraine. Hearing about or seeing the news can be very hard for kids to cope with - especially kids who learn and think differently.

Certain challenges can get in the way of processing information and emotions. Kids who learn and think differently might have trouble with:

Paying attention

Remembering information

Letting go of negative thoughts

Managing emotions

Processing information quickly

Understanding language

Seeing different solutions to problems

Coping with fear and anxiety

You may wonder about how all of this distressing news will affect your child's emotional health, behavior, and learning. Here are some common difficulties - and tips for helping.

Struggling with strong emotions

Kids who struggle with executive function, especially kids with ADHD, struggle to manage emotions. Their feelings are often intense, and they may have trouble letting go of them. They might fixate on tragic events, and talk about them endlessly.

And many kids with learning differences like dyslexia and ADHD also have anxiety. News of violence, especially in schools, can increase any fears that something bad could happen to them, their friends, their families, and their teachers.

Quick tip: Show empathy and acknowledge your child's feelings. But if your child keeps talking about it, point that out.

Not understanding what's happening

Not fully understanding events can be very stressful. Kids with slow processing speed may not be able to quickly take in and make sense of the events. They may also not be able to keep up with conversation or express their own thoughts in a timely way.

Kids who struggle with language skills may have a hard time understanding the news or what people are saying about it. They may also struggle to ask questions or share their feelings and concerns.

No matter the reason, it can be frustrating and isolating for kids to not be able to understand or keep up with the information they're getting.

Quick tip: Ask if your child needs you to explain more. And say it's OK to come back to you with questions later.

Exposure to bad news can be very distracting for all kids. It's especially hard when focus is already a challenge. Kids may get sidetracked by their own thoughts, especially kids with ADHD and executive function challenges.

Trouble focusing can create problems at home and at school. Kids might not follow directions. Or they may zone out when other people are talking. They may have difficulty holding on to information and remembering what they're supposed to do.

Quick tip: Point out when your child isn't paying attention, but don't criticize. Ask your child what might help with focus.

You may not be able to prevent the flow of information from having any short-term impact on your child. But there are ways to help keep it to a minimum:

Answer kids' questions. Be honest, but don't share more information than they can handle.

Help them understand. Kids often need more information or context to make sense of what they're hearing and seeing.

Acknowledge fears. Help kids talk about fears, and talk together about what would make things better.

Give kids a sense of control. Talk about what you're already doing to stay safe and ways you can help others.

Stick to routines as much as possible. They give kids a sense of security and normalcy.

Limit exposure. Do your best toturn off the news and stay off your phone around kids. And be sure to talk about other topics that are less stressful.

Most kids will process the news over time without any lasting impact. But some will need extra help coping with their feelings. Share any concerns you have with your child's health care provider and teacher. Talk about possible treatment or support that might help.

Key takeaways

Some kids need extra support to cope with and process stressful news.

It's important to answer kids' questions about shootings and other traumatic events.

Exposure to bad news can be very distracting, especially for kids with focus challenges.

About the author

About the author

Gail Belsky is executive editor at Understood. She has written and edited for major media outlets, specializing in parenting, health, and career content.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Andrew Kahn, PsyD is a licensed psychologist who has served as an evaluator and consultant in public schools for nearly 20 years. Kahn, who describes himself as neurodivergent, is a subject matter expert at Understood.

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How scary news can impact kids who learn and think differently | Understood

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Being exposed to tragic or stressful news can affect kids in many ways. It's especially hard for some kids who learn and think differently. Certain challenges get in the way of processing information and emotions. The last few years have been full of scary news for kids, from racial injustice to gun violence to the war in Ukraine.

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How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Key Takeaways

How parents respond to and talk about COVID-19 impacts kids.

Kids take their cues from parents on how to interpret and respond to the pandemic.

Being calm, honest, and open is important when talking to kids about the coronavirus.

Parents should focus on providing age-appropriate, fact-based information while promoting ways to stay healthy including handwashing, social distancing, and wearing a mask.

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Key Takeaways

With minute-by-minute updates about coronavirus (COVID-19), it comes as no surprise that this flood of information is causing a lot of anxiety and worry in us, as well as our kids.

If you're struggling with how to talk to your kids about the coronavirus, you're not alone. To help get you started with this critical conversation, we asked experts on child psychology and disease prevention to give us some tips on how to talk to kids in a way that they will understand, while also easing their anxiety about COVID-19.

These tips for healthy conversations with your child include:

Ease your own anxiety first

Have the conversation promptly

Learn what your child knows already

Be empathetic

Provide fact-based information and encourage good hygiene

Keep it age-appropriate

Develop a daily routine

Watch your child's stress levels moving forward

Check Your Anxiety Level First

With all the media coverage new cases and on deaths from the coronavirus, it's very common for adults to have anxiety-and it's quite understandable for kids to be worried about themselves and their parents, says Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, a pediatric mental health expert and psychologist.

Expert Tip

Kids Follow Their Parents' Examples

Parents need to be honest with themselves about their own fears, clinical psychologist Tamra Chansky, PhD, weighs in.

In her private practice, she's had many instances of kids sharing that the news of the coronavirus is all their parents are talking about. "The kids weren't that worried until they saw their parents spiraling with fear," she says.

Tamra Chansky, PhD

That's why she says it's essential that parents fact check their fears, edit for accuracy, and not let their feelings of fear be in charge.

The best actions are simple hand washing and keeping the immune system free to function by getting enough sleep and keeping stress levels down. ""Panic is part of the problem, never part of the solution."

Expert Tip

Don't Wait Too Long to Have the Conversation

As a parent, often, our first thought is to protect, even if that means minimizing the situation. But in cases like this, being honest and providing factual information is a parent's best defense.

"Kids can typically sense when there's stress in the household, so I suggest proactively bringing up the discussion," says Dr. Rishi Desai, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Osmosis and a former epidemic intelligence service officer in the division of viral diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rishi Desai, MD

Determine What Your Child Knows

Ask your child to tell you what they know about the coronavirus. Encourage them to share everything they've heard or read, even if they think it's a rumor. You may want to write down what they say, especially if you have more than one child.

The information you gather from this conversation can help you determine which facts you need to share first.

Be Empathetic and Don't Dismiss Their Fears

Your child's fears may seem unreasonable or unrealistic to you, but that doesn't mean they don't see them as real or valid. Before you talk about facts, listen to their concerns, and don't dismiss their fears. By hearing them out, you will be able to determine how you should direct the conversation.

"Through conversation, you want to hear what they are worried about, that's why it's essential to listen and not 'grill' your child, so you can better understand what they are feeling," says Capanna-Hodge.

"Sometimes children's worries are valid and other times they can be based on false information, so talking about it helps a parent know what their kid is really feeling," she adds.

Expert Tip

Stick to the Facts

This may seem obvious, but the information you share with your children should come from one or two sources. This can help minimize confusion, and it also teaches them how to search for accurate sources.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the World Health Organization, are two credible agencies. To get you started, here are five facts Dr. Desai says parents can share with their kids about the coronavirus (COVID-19):

COVID-19 causes many of the same symptoms as the flu-cough, fever, shortness of breath-but can get more serious (usually in older people).

It's important for anyone with these symptoms to see a medical professional, wear a mask so as not to infect others, and/or simply stay at home.

COVID-19 is caused by a virus that mainly spreads when people cough and sneeze.

Washing hands and not touching your T zone (eyes, nose, and mouth) can reduce the chance of getting COVID-19.

There is no vaccine or cure, but there are treatments that can help people feel better.

Keep the Information Age-Appropriate

Younger children may need physical proximity while you talk to them. Consider holding their hand or sitting, so they are eye level with you.

How you discuss it will differ depending on the age of the child, but here's how Desai started the discussion with his three-year-old. "We saw a person wearing a mask, and I explained that some people that are sick are wearing masks so that the germs don't spread when they cough or sneeze."

"We talked about how to cough and sneeze like a 'dracula' into the crook of your elbow, and that hand-washing helps wash away the germs. We also talked about how important it was for him to tell his daycare teachers and us if he wasn't feeling well."

If you have middle and high school kids, the best approach is to talk about the fact that COVID-19 causes many of the same symptoms as the flu, but that in some people (mainly the elderly) it can get much more severe. Also, stress the importance of practicing good hygiene.

Expert Tip

Talk About Sticking to a Routine

The World Health Organization recommends that families keep their regular routines and schedules as much as possible. With schools and businesses closed throughout the country, this may be difficult for a lot of families. If changes need to be made, frame the conversation with a positive attitude.

Expert Tip

Social Distancing

One unfortunate side effect of social distancing practices and widespread school closures is that your children are not able to spend time with their friends or family members outside the household.

This is a major disruption to their lives, so it's important to let them know that by staying home, they are helping a lot of people stay healthy. Highlight the fact that this won't last forever, and do what you can to provide outlets for your kids to see and talk to their friends or family with Zoom, FaceTime, and other digital options for as long as they are unable to see them in person.

Be Aware of Their Behavior

Many kids struggle with expressing their fear and concerns verbally. This can often lead to changes in behavior. "Depending on your child's age, they may or may not have the communication skills to say how they are feeling, but most children and teens show their worries through their behavior," says Capanna-Hodge.

Signs of stress and anxiety to look for include problems sleeping, headaches, stomach aches, or sleep problems.

Her advice? "Be present and engaged (that means no phones) and see what your child is telling you. Are they expressing anger and frustration too easily? Or maybe they are withdrawing? Those behavioral signs give us clear indicators of how your child is feeling, and they should be your alert that they need better support."

What This Means For You

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How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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With minute-by-minute updates about coronavirus (COVID-19), it comes as no surprise that this flood of information is causing a lot of anxiety and worry in us, as well as our kids. If you're struggling with how to talk to your kids about the coronavirus, you're not alone.

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Caring for Your Children and Yourself During COVID-19

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Caring for Your Children and Yourself During COVID-19

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From Talking is Teaching

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Tips, ideas, and tools for parents and children for returning to school, homeschool, or anything in between.

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Back-to-School Care Package - Big Life Journal.pdf

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In many places, students returning to school buildings will be required to wear masks. These strategies can help elementary students adjust.

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In many places, students returning to school buildings will be required to wear masks. These strategies can help elementary students adjust.

Bill Graham / The Meridian Star via Associated Press

Our brains do not like surprises-they love to make predictions by finding patterns that are familiar, and they learn from associations, connections, and patterned experiences. But as schools begin to resume in late summer, there will be many unfamiliar experiences: new routines, schedules, and guidelines. Especially for young students, it's going to be challenging at best to adjust to wearing masks for extended periods.

States, districts, and schools that are returning to in-class teaching will have a variety of regulations and protocols, and we need to think collectively about how we can help young students follow those protocols. Parents can help by getting their kids used to wearing masks for increasing intervals even before school begins, and I have some suggestions for how we might introduce masks to students while creating safe and predictable environments to allay the expected fear and anxiety these changes could create.

It will be particularly important for educators to share their own feelings and sensations when wearing the masks in the first few weeks of school. When we share our vulnerabilities, worries, and questions, we can sit beside our students in creating a safe, open space for them to express their concerns and worries.

Connections and trust will need to be our priorities at the onset. What props, hats or other pieces of clothing, fictional characters, or objects could you share to introduce yourself and create positive associations and connections right away? How could you reveal your passions, interests, and personal stories while wearing your mask during that first day or week of school? I've shared the strategies below with teachers all summer. They have started implementing these with pre-K students, who report loving the activities and feeling a sense of calm.

In my work as a professor of education, I'm fortunate to be able to spend two mornings a week in K-12 classrooms. When I meet my new fourth-grade students in a few weeks while I'm wearing my mask, I will bring a plastic brain, a pair of flip-flops, and a picture of my family's rescue dog, Nellie. The students will learn a little about me through these objects as I in turn, will invite them each day for the first few weeks to share their passions and interests through objects or images.

Strategies for Starting the Year in Masks

1. A calming bag: Tangible items such as Band-Aids, mints, a personal note or encouraging sticker, extra pencils, etc. can often feel comforting when someone notices our fears or worries. Rather than share these items, at the moment it might be best if teachers create a bag for each student-if a grant or other funding is available-or send home a list of items so that parents and guardians can create the bags. Students keep them at school and use when needed. What would you put in a calming bag?

2. New routines: Teachers should be purposeful about creating classroom routines to ease any embarrassment, discomfort, worry, or anxiety students may have about wearing masks. Many of our students will not walk in already accustomed to wearing masks, so routines and predictable structures can help them feel calm and ready to learn. Routines can include things like drawing or journaling thoughts.

3. Connections with parents: A letter to parents outlining class procedures and routines will ease their anxiety and that of their kids. Teachers can also use this letter to invite parents to share the celebrations and challenges their children have experienced over the past several months.

Here are a few questions to consider asking parents:

What are the two or three best ways I can create a positive experience for your child this year?

Please share your favorite memories of your child. What makes him or her smile and laugh?

What do you need from me that would be helpful for your family?

What are ways I could help your child adjust to the mask this year?

Are there any changes at home that would be helpful for me to know? (You can frame this as a yes/no question, and give parents the option to explain if they wish.)

How can we work together this year? Is there anything you would like to teach or share with our class this year?

4. Face masks and superhero powers: This is a new focused attention practice designed around masks. Ask students what superhero they are, and ask them all to create a power pose. As they hold this pose, have them breathe in three deep breaths, hold for a couple of seconds, and then breathe out a superpower they wish to send to themselves, someone they care about, or the world.

5. Morning meeting questions: These are some questions teachers can use in the first week or two as students get used to their masks and each other.

How does a mask protect us?

Do you know of any superheroes that wear masks?

Maybe we could all decorate our own paper masks? What colors, shapes, and designs do you want on your mask?

6. Theme weeks: The first weeks of school are going to feel rough for many educators and students. Sometimes redirecting our attention away from our masks can more easily occur if we focus on something else. One way to do that is to designate theme weeks with a variety of associations and connections. Ideas include things like Favorite Color Week, Animal Week, Favorite Tradition Week, Artist Week, Music Week, and My Buddy Week. You can also ask students for suggestions so that they feel empowered by the themes. Teachers and students together can also come up with activities for the themes.

7. Emotion reading practice: We are capable of reading facial expressions from the eyes up. Teachers can spend a few minutes a day practicing this. Have a student wearing a mask think of a feeling and try to express that with their face, and ask the class to guess the emotion or feeling. Another option is to put little masks on the emojis on feeling charts. Students can work to become experts at reading facial expressions of people wearing masks, which could be a fun ritual that reduces anxiety and fear.

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In many places, students returning to school buildings will be required to wear masks. These strategies can help elementary students adjust. Bill Graham / The Meridian Star via Associated Press Our brains do not like surprises-they love to make predictions by finding patterns that are familiar, and they learn from associations, connections, and patterned experiences.

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Sesame Street Video about wearing masks.

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Sesame Street Video about wearing masks.

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As communities open up and families begin to return to familiar places, together we can adjust to a new way of doing things—while keeping everyone safe.

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CDC launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a new national campaign designed to motivate adults to make clean hands part of their daily lives. The campaign resources below are designed to help raise awareness about the importance of hand-washing at key times in both homes and public settings, such as before cooking or after using the bathroom. Download and share them to help spread the word and encourage hand-washing within your community.

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CDC launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a new national campaign designed to motivate adults to make clean hands part of their daily lives. The campaign resources below are designed to help raise awareness about the importance of handwashing at key times in both homes and public settings, such as before cooking or after using the bathroom. Download and share them to help spread the word and encourage handwashing within your community.

Print Materials

These print-ready materials can be downloaded, printed, and distributed to help raise awareness about handwashing in public areas, such as public restrooms, kitchen and workplaces. To order FREE printed copies of selected publications, you can visit CDC-INFO On Demand.

State, tribal, local, and territorial partners can access co-brandable versions of campaign posters in the Communication Resource Center of CDC's State Tribal, Local, and Territorial (STLT) Collaboration Space. In the Communication Resource Center, click on "CDC Communications," then click on "Customizable Communication Products." Co-brandable Life is Better with Clean Hands posters are in the "Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases" folder.

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Social Media Posts and Graphics

Use these graphics and suggested posts to spread the word about handwashing on social media. Each graphic is available in formatting specific to Facebook (1200×675), Twitter (1200×675), and Instagram (1080×1080).

Sample Posts

Use the hashtag #KeepHandsClean and follow CDC's social media accounts to like, share, or comment on content related to the Life is Better with Clean Hands campaign. You can also share CDC's sample messages below on your social media platforms to promote the importance of handwashing.

Web Banners

Add the banners below to your website and help promote the Life is Better with Clean Hands campaign and direct your audience to more handwashing resources. Place the graphic in the way that works best for your website.

Stickers, Window and Mirror Clings

Print window and mirror clings on white, thin plastic/vinyl film. Adhere clings to any clean dry glass surface, like windows and mirrors. The printable sticker sheet is compatible with full-sheet sticker paper (3"x5" label sheet) or standard pre-cut labels.

Radio Public Service Announcements

These public service announcements were developed by CDC for organizations and individuals to share with local media.

Sample Newsletter Announcements

Promote CDC's campaign Life is Better with Clean Hands and the importance of handwashing by including the announcement below in a newsletter, publication, email, or webpage. Use these sample newsletter blurbs as is or customize them for your networks.

CDC has launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a national campaign encouraging adults to make clean hands a healthy habit at home and away.

Washing your hands is easy, and it's one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu.

Follow these five steps every time.

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.

4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

If soap and water aren't available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
For more information on Life is Better with Clean Hands, a campaign promotion toolkit, free posters, and other resources for promoting handwashing, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

CDC has launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a national campaign encouraging parents to make clean hands a healthy habit for the whole family.

Handwashing is an easy, inexpensive, and effective way to help your family stay healthy. Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu. When your family is healthy, you don't have to worry about missing school, work, or other activities.

Help your children make handwashing a healthy habit at home, school, and play by:

Teaching kids the five easy steps for handwashing-wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry-and the key times to wash hands, such as after using the bathroom or before eating.

Giving frequent reminders so that handwashing becomes a habit and a regular part of your child's day.

Leading by example by washing your hands.

For more information on Life is Better with Clean Hands, a campaign promotion toolkit, free posters, and other resources for promoting handwashing, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

CDC has launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a national campaign encouraging adults to make clean hands a healthy habit at home and on the go.

Handwashing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent food poisoning. Follow these handwashing tips to make sure you have clean hands when preparing food:

Wash hands before, during, and after preparing food and before eating. Wash your hands often, especially during key times when germs can spread. Be sure to wash before preparing any food and after touching raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs.

Wash your hands the right way. Wet your hands with water before applying soap. Scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails for at least 20 seconds before, during, and after handling any food.

Wash your hands often when you cook to prevent the spread of germs. Your hands can spread germs in the kitchen, so always wash your hands to prevent cross-contamination.

Wash hands before and after using gloves. Gloves can get contaminated with germs from your hands. Be sure to wash your hands before and after using gloves to prevent the spread of germs.

For more information on Life is Better with Clean Hands, a campaign promotion toolkit, free posters, and other resources for promoting handwashing, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

CDC has launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a national campaign encouraging adults to make clean hands a healthy habit at home and away.

Handwashing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness to others. Germs can spread easily in offices where employees share the same space, supplies, and equipment. CDC recommends washing hands often, especially during key times when you are likely to get and spread germs. In workplaces, these key times are before eating lunch or preparing food, after using the bathroom, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol.
For more information on Life is Better with Clean Hands, a campaign promotion toolkit, free posters, and other resources for promoting handwashing, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.

Promote Handwashing Throughout the Year

These monthly observances provide opportunities for you to promote handwashing content on your social media, websites, newsletters, or any other communication channels throughout the year.
January-March April

National Public Health Week
May-July August September

Food Safety Education Month
October November-December

Cold and Flu Season

Holiday Season

December

National Handwashing Awareness Week

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CDC launched Life is Better with Clean Hands, a new national campaign designed to motivate adults to make clean hands part of their daily lives. The campaign resources below are designed to help raise awareness about the importance of handwashing at key times in both homes and public settings, such as before cooking or after using the bathroom.

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These printable posters can be used to help raise awareness about hand-washing in highly visible public areas, such as schools, workplaces, and restrooms. They are designed for all audiences, and some are available in multiple sizes and languages, and can be ordered for free via CDC-Info on Demand.

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Order or print CDC’s handwashing posters for adults, teens, and kids. Find posters in Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, and more languages.

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COVID-19 and Early Childhood

To help our partners navigate information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and Michigan’s recovery, ECIC compiled a variety of resources, from the government and the private and nonprofit sectors, for families with young children and for organizations that serve young children and families.

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To help our partners navigate information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and Michigan's recovery, ECIC compiled a variety of resources, from the government and the private and nonprofit sectors, for families with young children and for organizations that serve young children and families.

Bookmark this page to check back regularly and follow us on Facebook to learn the latest. And please your questions or suggestions for resources and content that we can share.
This page is updated regularly
Critical COVID-19 Resources

Call the COVID-19 Hotline at 888-535-6136 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Email COVID19@michigan.gov 24/7. Emails will be answered 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Subscribe to e-newsletter updates at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus

Resources for Child Care Providers

NEW! Michigan Small Business Restart Program Application

COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan has Re-Opened - Apply Now!

Child Care Relief Fund Grants - Apply Now! The Child Care Relief Fund is a grant program that helps child care providers in Michigan cover costs during the COVID-19 state of emergency and 100% of Michigan child care providers are eligible.

The Michigan Entrepreneur Resilience Fund will provide recovery grants of $1,000-$5,000 and microloans of $5,000-$10,000 to small businesses who are in need and have been adversely affected by COVID-19 closure.

Child Care Business Resilience Grant Program: If you are a child care center owner who is considering closure, ICA Group is here to help you explore another option that can keep your business alive: employee ownership.

Consumers Energy - COVID-19 Survival Toolkit for small businesses and non-profit's around the state.

Paycheck Protection Program: A second round of funding is available. Please review the information below and apply now.

Loan and Grant Funding Resources:

SBAM daily briefings to help navigate the COVID-19 crisis:

Families and Workers Fund - Rapid response fund dedicated to helping the workers, families, and communities most devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resources for Families and Parents

Bridge Magazine has compiled a growing list of where Michigan families can get food, cash, and internet access during the crisis.

Parents or family members in the essential workforce who need child care: please go complete a simple form with your child care needs or call 2-1-1

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has developed an online map for families to find meals. View the map.

Guidance for households who receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), including an expanded list of WIC food items.

CNN and 'Sesame Street' Town Hall Addressing Racism: The show will talk to kids about racism, the recent nationwide protests, embracing diversity and being more empathetic and understanding.

MDHHS Resource Guide: Resource with information on how everyone can support children, parents and other caregivers during the COVID-19 emergency.

Communicating With Children During the Covid-19 Outbreak - Documents, guidelines and resources focus on promoting healthy and comforting discussions between children and their parents/guardians during this stressful time.

MI Resilience: Tips for Parents, Caregivers, and Guardians - This resource from MDHHS provides tips for parents, caregivers, and guardians on how to help children with their anxieties and worries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Free Mental Health Resources: Stay Home, Stay MIndful.

MDHHS launched the warmline phone service that connects Michiganders living with persistent mental health conditions to certified peer support specialists. The warmline operates 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week at 888-PEER-753 ( 888-733-7753 ).

MI Resilience: Tips for Managing Stress - This resource from MDHHS provides tips for managing stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local and Regional Partner Resources

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To help our partners navigate information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and Michigan's recovery, ECIC compiled a variety of resources, from the government and the private and nonprofit sectors, for families with young children and for organizations that serve young children and families. Bookmark this page to check back regularly and follow us on Facebook to learn the latest.

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How can I encourage my child to keep a mask on his or her face?

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How can I encourage my child to keep a mask on his or her face?

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This is a question that has raised concerns with parents everywhere.

Whether you are currently living in a state where wearing a mask (for children over age 2) is now mandatory, or you just want to ensure protection for your child and others, it is essential to be prepared.

Check out these seven quick tips designed to help make wearing a mask easier on everyone.

https://biasbehavioral.com/how-to-help-your-child-adapt-to-wearing-a-mask/

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Helping young kids through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. 

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Helping young kids through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. 

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Zero to Thrive, in partnership with Tender Press Books, announces the release of a coloring story book to help children with their big feelings during COVID-19

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Helping Young Kids Through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis - Zero to Thrive

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Z2T team shares suggestions on how to help even very young children make sense of current realities.

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Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019

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Talking with children about Coronavirus Disease 2019

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CDC has created recommendations to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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CDC provides credible COVID-19 health information to the U.S.

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Your friends on Sesame Street are here to support you during the COVID-19 health crisis.  Visit: https://www.sesamestreet.org/caring

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face coverings dos and donts sesame street

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Download this social story and read it with your child.

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Why are people wearing masks? Why are people covering their faces?

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Why are people wearing masks? Why are people covering their faces?

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Sometimes our toddlers ask us questions that are hard to answer—especially when we’re not sure what the right answer is, like the situation many communities are facing with COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus).

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For children under three years, it's best to answer their questions simply in language they understand. If children ask about people wearing masks or other face coverings, parents can explain:

Sometimes people wear masks when they are sick or to help keep them safe so they won't get sick.

Sometimes children might ask follow-up questions like the ones below. At this age, it's important to answer only the questions they ask. Avoid sharing additional information (about germs, what is contagious, etc.) that they can't understand because of their age. Some common follow-up questions might be:

Is the mask a costume? (No, sometimes people wear masks when they are sick or to help keep them safe so they won't get sick.)

Can the person still talk? (Yes. The mask covers their mouth, but they can still talk. Just like if I put my hand over my mouth, I can still talk. [demonstrate])

Are they scary or a "bad" person? (No. The mask covers up part of their face, but that doesn't mean they are scary or bad. They are wearing a mask because they are sick or to keep other people from getting sick. That's all.)

Will I get sick? (Everybody gets sick sometimes. If you get sick, Mama/Dada will take care of you until you are all better. The doctors will help you, too.)

If you live in a community where many people are wearing masks, your child may want to "pretend play" wearing a mask. This is very typical for toddlers! Pretend play is one way that children make sense of their world, by "trying on" the roles and people they see in the world around them. As a parent, you can decide how comfortable you are with this play theme. You might also suggest pretend play around medical roles (doctor/nurse with a teddy bear) to focus on how people take care of others when they are sick.

During stressful times, what children need most is you-a safe, secure relationship where they can express their feelings and questions. Here are some tips:

Keep daily routines (naptime, bedtime) as consistent as possible for your child.

Limit your child's exposure to media reports about COVID-19. Remember, your child is soaking in the tension you're feeling as you watch the news.

Discuss your own questions/worries about COVID-19 when your child is out of earshot.

Practice good hygiene to limit exposure to COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control/Healthy Children has helpful resources on this topic.

Looking for more information? Visit zerotothree.org/coronavirus for our latest resources and updates for families.

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Why are people wearing masks? Why are people covering their faces?

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For children under three years, it's best to answer their questions simply in language they understand. If children ask about people wearing masks or other face coverings, parents can explain: Sometimes people wear masks when they are sick or to help keep them safe so they won't get sick.

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Children May Be Afraid of Masks. Here’s How to Help.

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Children May Be Afraid of Masks. Here’s How to Help.

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Experts suggest acclimating children to masks at home and drawing a connection to superheroes’ uniforms.

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Experts suggest acclimating children to masks at home and drawing a connection to superheroes' uniforms.

Credit... iStock by Getty Images

By

When you go out these days, if you must go out in this time of coronavirus, you see more and more masks - homemade fabric masks, surgical masks of all varieties, and the occasional high-tech mask that seems to have wandered out of a scuba sequence or a space movie.

But for some children, even the humblest of masks can be scary - scary in themselves, and scary as reminders of the threat of infection, and the generally frightening times through which we are living. There are children who find Halloween frightening, children who hate clowns, children who react badly to anyone without a standard human face. Roberto Olivardia, a lecturer in psychology at Harvard Medical School, said that as many as 1 percent of children may suffer from " maskaphobia," a fear that persists for longer than six months, usually thought of in relation to costumes and superheroes.

But for many children, seeing their parents wearing masks as they come and go, or going outside, even with full social distancing, in a world where most people are wearing masks, can be disconcerting, frightening or just one more source of sadness.

One reason children may find masks disconcerting is that the ability to recognize - and read - faces is much weaker in young children than it will be by adolescence. A while ago, when I wrote about this ability, I spoke with Kang Lee, a professor of applied psychology and human development at the University of Toronto, who studies the development of facial recognition skills in children.

I reached out to him again to think about how the face masks we are now seeing everywhere might appear to preschoolers.

As adults, Dr. Lee said, we look at faces as a whole: "If you wear a mask, I can still recognize you, even though half of your face is covered, I can still recognize the structure of your face."

Starting at around age 6, children begin to develop these skills, but, he said, it is not until they are about 14 that they reach adult skill levels in recognizing faces.

He explained that children younger than 6 tend to pay attention to individual features, rather than recognizing the person as a whole. "For example, they pay attention to the size of the nose, or the shape of the eye." Studies in which children were asked to look at pictures in which faces were partially blocked off show that they may have trouble recognizing even familiar faces when some of those features were not fully visible. So friends and neighbors - seen from a distance - who are wearing masks may look more unfamiliar to children than they do to adults.

For example, in one study, children were given a set of pictures of their teacher, mixed up with pictures of another person, and asked to sort them out so that only pictures of the teacher were together. By the age of 6, they could do it, but 4- and 5-year-olds could not do it so reliably.

Catherine J. Mondloch, a professor of psychology and the director of the face perception lab at Brock University in Ontario, said, "If you think even about Halloween, one of the things we know about really young children, preschool age, is when the appearance of something changes, they think the thing itself has changed."

For parents who are starting to wear masks, she said, "Put it on, put it off a few times, so the child sees it's still daddy."

We are accustomed to getting lots of different information from faces, Dr. Mondloch said, ranging from the age of the person to the emotion the person is feeling to the general question of recognition and identity - that is, whether we've met the person before. All of those perceptual skills improve across childhood, she said.

"Even if you show children pictures of pretty exaggerated expressions, young children will make more errors" in reading the emotional states, she said. "Children mix up emotions, look at a sad face and might say the person looks scared, or misperceive anger as disgust."

And by putting on masks, she said, we've taken away some of that information - and made it especially difficult for children to read emotional signals, which is, again, unsettling and disconcerting. So if you are wearing a mask, make sure to explain yourself very clearly to your child, giving directions, telling the child if there's a problem. Dr. Olivardia said that children with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and social anxiety may be particularly vulnerable here.

Dr. Harold Koplewicz, the president of the Child Mind Institute, which has extensive coronavirus resources for parents, said, "I think it's important to explain to kids that people are wearing masks as a way to help others - otherwise they assume it's because they're dangerous." Children should think of this as an act of social responsibility, he said, and it might help to compare it to washing hands, as something you do to keep yourself safe, but also to help protect others.

"It is important to first validate that it can be uncomfortable when we don't know what or who is behind a mask," Dr. Olivardia said in an email. "You can have a child wear their own mask, even a scary one, and recognize that they can be perceived as scary despite being a nice person."

For treating phobias, psychologists often rely on exposure therapy, and Dr. Christopher Willard, a psychologistin Cambridge, Mass., who is the author of "The Breathing Book, " suggested that parents try an informal version with masks. "Pick fun fabric, let kids design them for themselves and their parents, make it a craft activity and also a game," he wrote in an email. "Practice taking them on and off and wearing them around the house for fun, but also taking it off, try to read each other's facial expressions with just eyes while a mask is on," he suggested. "These kinds of things normalize it a bit and make it less scary."

Praise children for asking questions, Dr. Koplewicz said, and remind them that can always check back and ask additional questions. "This is a topic that's going to come up again and again," he said.

Dr. Willard suggested that it could help children to make a superhero connection, explaining that doctors and nurses are heroes protecting and helping other people, and masks are part of their uniforms. "We too can be superheroes and protect other people from germs by wearing these masks for a while," he wrote.

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Children May Be Afraid of Masks. Here's How to Help.

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Experts suggest acclimating children to masks at home and drawing a connection to superheroes' uniforms. By When you go out these days, if you must go out in this time of coronavirus, you see more and more masks - homemade fabric masks, surgical masks of all varieties, and the occasional high-tech mask that seems to have wandered out of a scuba sequence or a space movie.

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Mental Health Awareness Workgroup of the Livingston County Human Services Collaborative Body