6 ways to help kids wear face masks as North Carolina requires younger children to wear one

Phase 2.5 of North Carolina's reopening plan, which Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday, includes updated rules for face masks. Now kids ages 5 and up must wear a face mask when in public places, especially when inside or in other areas where physical distancing is not possible. The state's previous guidance required face masks only for those ages 11 and up.

"Kids need to wear them for the same reason everybody else does," said Jessica Dixon, infection prevention specialist at WakeMed. "More and more evidence has emerged that a mask is protective in two ways."

It takes hundreds of coronavirus particles to get inside your body to get sick (compared to just 14 to come down with the norovirus).

"The more you can block stuff, the fewer viral particles are going to make it into your body to get sick," she said. "You might get some in your body, but not enough to get sick."

But how can parents get children, especially young ones, to wear a mask? It can be easier said than done, Dixon, a mom herself, acknowledged. Dixon offered some tips for parents.

As most of us know by now, not all masks fit exactly the same. Some loop around your ears. Others tie around the back of your head. Some come with pleats. Others come with stretchier fabric. And some feature Paw Patrol and Elsa.

Find out what works best for your child and look for designs that might appeal to them. Young children, especially, may be excited to wear something featuring their favorite character or celebrating an upcoming holiday. "I'm sure it's going to vary from kid to kid," Dixon said. And it may change without warning too,

Dixon's 10-year-old didn't mind a mask made by Simply Southern, which Dixon thought was too hot for herself. But then she got her a couple masks from Target, which her daughter didn't complain about during an all-day summer camp. Now she wears those. "We've had to modify it a little bit," Dixon said of the Target masks. "The ear loops are not tight enough. It takes a lot of messing with it and adjusting with it."

Added layers on a mask can make it more protective. Two or three layers will block out more of those viral particles. But, said Dixon, "in most cases, you sacrifice comfort as you increase protection."

If other moms on those Facebook parenting groups you follow are touting how well their kids are wearing their triple-layer face masks and your child can't wear them because of sensory issues or other reasons, don't sweat it. Just find a mask for them that works.

"You have to find a happy medium," she said.

Monkey see, monkey do, as they say. "If you, as the adult, talk about how much wearing a mask sucks because it's hot, uncomfortable and I can't breathe, your kids are probably not going to be, 'No, Mommy, it's fabulous," Dixon said. "Model it as an adult and take your anxiety, discomfort and disagreement and voice that outside the ear shot of your kids."

Young kids don't need to know every detail about how the coronavirus is spread. "Use some simple language with kids," Dixon said. For young kids, messages like masks "keep the bugs away" or "keep the yuckies off your face" may work just fine.

The Museum of Life and Science recently offered this virtual session where they explained the science behind face masks for younger kids.

And a local teacher, who calls herself the Preschool Rockstar, released a song last month about wearing a face mask.

Raleigh teacher, AKA Preschool Rockstar, releases new song about face masks

Encourage them to wear the mask around the house just to get used to the feeling before they really need to wear it to go back to school or visit a local museum once they open.

Having them wear it while they're playing a game or watching a movie is one way to get them used to it, but don't make it a source of contention. If they refuse to wear it while playing Roblox at home, don't push it.

"I think that confuses the message of when it's important," Dixon said.

Very few children — even a five year old — will agree with you if you declare that wearing face masks all the time is a lot of fun. Kids know this isn't awesome, she said.

"We can have some fun with it, but we also know that it is hard and it's not what we're used to and it is uncomfortable," she said.

But, she said, some things we just have to do to keep our loved ones and communities healthy.

"There are some people who could honestly say that we're doing this to keep ourselves safe and we're doing this to keep everybody else safe," she said. "If that's a value for your family, that may resonate with your kids."