AIBU to think a 6 year old is too young to be forced to where a mask?

[Meadow1203]

This is now the law [in France] edited by MNHQ for clarity. I think this could be very frightening for a small child.

It’s very weird how happy people are for their kids to wear masks.

I'm not happy, I'd prefer the virus just jogged on.
But as it isn't I'm okay with my dc doing what needs to be done.

I'm not happy wearing a mask but likewise I'm doing what needs to be done.

When my dc are older they will be able to look back on this very odd period of their lives and know they did what they could to help.

Anything 'forced' on a child would probably be frightening. My two have been wearing them since March. We bought ones with superheroes on and and they just see it as the done thing when we go in shops now. Youngest is 7

flaviaritt what exactly is it you find disgusting about it? Just a genuine question as they are not offensive, nor are they dangerous so I don't understand the strong objection? Kids adapt quickly, if you're fine with it so will they be.

I do find it offensive for 6 year olds to be forced to be masked hour after hour, day after day. It’s wrong, in my opinion. Fundamentally. And I don’t mind that some people disagree, it’s just what I think.

DS(4) has been asked to wear one to a medical appointment in December. I think he'll be fine and I have to keep reminding myself that being weirded out by seeing him in one is my issue not his and to keep it to myself.

If it became mandatory at school for him I'd be really saddened as I can't see how it wouldn't impact his new friendships and learning.

Mine wouldn’t be wearing one and I would also remove them from school if they were expected to. Like I said it will never be the norm for my children, crazy how excepting people are of this!

Not sure really.... DS has just turned 4 and has worn one since end of May when we go into shops etc. Got him a nice, child size one that is size adjustable and soft around the ears... nice pattern on it. He isn't fussed tbh. Found it quite a novelty at first too, and now its just the norm as he sees all the adults wearing one anyway. If you ask him about it he will tell you its to try and keep safe from germs, so he kind of understands the purpose a bit.

I worry about young children wearing them all day when they are still developing their social and communication skills. My DD struggles to make herself understood and interact without a mask and I think she would stop trying if it was even harder.
Plus I don't think they are that effective when touched and fiddled with constantly.

Accepting*

Plus I don't think they are that effective when touched and fiddled with constantly.

Or when worn all day without being changed.

They have to wear them from the age of 3 here. We have been “required” to wear masks since April. The only problem I’ve seen with young kids wearing them is that they don’t know how to wear them and they constantly touch and pull at them, slide them up and down, thus defeating the object. Not that masks make much difference anyway.

@flaviaritt schools in England ate not forcing kids to wear masks for hours at a time. In my son's school they wear them during the 5 mins it takes to change lessons and break which is 20 mins. Lunch they don't as they are eating. It's hardly a long time and there's no traumatised kids (only parents who make it into an issue that's not there)

Not scary unless parents make it this way. In fact I think should be compulsory unless SEN.

All my children wear masks and have never complained. They wear it or they don’t get to come!

I'm in NYC, all children over the age of 2 have to wear a mask. Children are adaptable and I'm sure they'll be fine - more terrifying was the morgues in Central Park and the streets crawling with soldiers in April/May/June.

My son is 3. Where I live in the US, it is law that children 2 years and older wear them while at nursery, all day every day. He manages just fine. Why on earth would a mask be scary (unless he has some sensory issues or such, which you haven't mentioned)? Things are generally scary to children if a parent makes them so...

Marzipan12

Great. I am talking about 6 year olds, though, not older children. I’m not forcing my small child into a mask at all. She can stay at home if school is considered dangerous enough that this is believed necessary.

In fact I think should be compulsory unless SEN.

So you would force a sobbing 5 year old into a face mask?

My 2 year old won't wear one so I'm glad we're not living somewhere where he's required to wear one. With an older child (assuming no sensory issues/SN), I think it's reasonable to expect them to be able to wear a mask for short periods. But not all day... They're uncomfortable, they do restrict your breathing and they're especially unpleasant for people who wear glasses. Sometimes I can't see a thing when we go into a shop because they're so fogged up and I have to grab my toddler's collar to make sure he doesn't run off.

Why on earth would a mask be scary (unless he has some sensory issues or such, which you haven't mentioned)?

Why would the dark be scary? Why would spiders be scary? Why would anything be scary? If the child is scared, they’re scared.

Can you let the children choose they're own fun mask or decorate it with them? Make it fun, not an issue.

I've also wandered why its mandatory for adults and not children? If a 2+2 family goes shopping, the adults wear one but not the children, kind of defeats the purpose.

I've also wandered why its mandatory for adults and not children? If a 2+2 family goes shopping, the adults wear one but not the children, kind of defeats the purpose.

It doesn’t defeat the purpose. There is less transmission when people wear masks. The question is one of proportionality.

I am a teacher in a country where everyone except babies under 1 wore a mask when in public buildings or transport. My students ages vary from 3 to 7. Not one of them was remotely bothered about wearing a mask, even the most usually-anxious child, and many of them actively loved it as the masks come with cute illustrations on.

Unless your child has SN, you shouldn't need to force a mask onto them. Surely they know about Corona virus, that Mommy wears one, now the scientists think that children should to to keep them safe etc.

SleepingStandingUp

What a load of rubbish. People on this thread have told you their children find them intolerable.

My son goes to a club where everyone's been wearing them since July. The youngest are 5, my son's older but is autistic with sensory issues around his mouth. They've been fine.

For 99% of children, the only barrier is parents making a big deal of it.