Masks & Face Coverings
Including how to get children used to wearing masks
All staff members will wear cloth face masks or face coverings.
All students using district transportation will be required to wear a cloth mask or face covering while riding on a school bus.
Students in grades K-2 are required to wear cloth face masks or face coverings. Classroom breaks are allowed per teacher direction.
Students in grades 3-6 are required to wear cloth face masks or face coverings. Mask and face covering breaks will be scheduled when being outside is practical.
Students in grades 7-12 are required to wear cloth face masks or face coverings.
Individuals with unique medical conditions or conditions that make wearing a mask or face covering impractical will need to submit documentation from a doctor or work with the school nurse to receive a special dispensation.
How Can Parents Help Kids Wear a Mask?
Cloth face coverings (or a face mask, if you have one) on adults and kids over 2 years old can help slow the spread of the virus. Here are some ways to help kids wear masks when you go out:
Help kids get used to masks. As much as you can, give kids time to practice wearing their masks before they might need to wear one outside of your home. Teach them how to put them on and take them off.
Encourage kids to decorate their mask. This might help them feel a sense of ownership and control over the situation. A personal touch can help make it more of a normal part of their routine, and make it more likely they'll want to wear their mask. Depending on the type of mask, kids can draw on it with markers or put stickers on it.
Make them together. If you make face coverings at home, let older kids help you. There are no-sew masks that are easy to make, often with materials you probably already have (T-shirts, bandannas, etc.). If you sew masks, maybe kids can select the fabric or patterns for the masks they'll wear.
Help make it fun. With younger kids, introduce a sense of play. Kids can pretend to be a doctor or nurse while wearing their masks. They might want to use a doctor kit and "take care" of a stuffed animal or doll.
Have a few masks handy while kids play. This lets them use their imagination about how to use them during playtime. It also helps make masks a more normal part of their everyday world. You can ask your child to put a mask on a stuffed animal, and then ask follow-up questions about why the stuffed animal is wearing the mask. Depending on your child's response, you can clear up any confusion and offer reassurance.
Helping Kids Get Used to Seeing and Wearing Masks (Link) from Nationwide Children's
How Can I Get My Child to Wear a Mask in Public?
There is no right way to work on this, but one universal theme is to prepare children ahead of time. The first time they wear a mask should not be when they are walking into a doctor’s office, hospital or store. Practice at home using some playful activities so that they are comfortable before leaving the house. If you have time, work on it for several days before the appointment or trip. Here are some recommendations:
Put a mask on a favorite stuffed animal. Act out the trip to the doctor using the stuffed animal and praise the toy for wearing their mask.
Gradually have your child wear the mask for a longer and longer period of time. Start with 5 seconds at a time, then 10 seconds and increase from there until they can wear it for 5 or more minutes without taking it off.
Parents can practice at home too by wearing a face covering around the house to normalize the look.
Take selfies so that kids can see how they look. Use video calling with family and friends while wearing the mask so others can give them positive comments as well. “Wow, you’re doing a great job wearing your mask.” “You look like a superhero!”
Print out pictures or find pictures online of their favorite characters wearing masks. If there aren’t any, print out a regular picture and draw a mask together on the character.
Allow your child to dress up to match their mask. If they want to be a superhero in a cape or costume for the day, let them.
You can offer a small reward for wearing the mask if necessary, such as a treat, screen time or a special book to read. Set an expectation ahead of time for how they can earn the reward. Be sure to practice at home ahead of time.
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