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.

[Fromthetopmakeitdrop]

@flaviaritt oh I understand its just the idea in general you aren't on board with. I thought the actual mask was the issue. As I say my 6yo is totally fine with it but I can see how it might be an issue for less compliant children. I do think as a parent you know if your child is genuinely upset by it or whether they just don't like it so in my workplace we do say 'wear a mask if they are able to' I have no objection to it honestly. I think it's strange times we are all living in though and understand why people can't or dont want to comply.

[AntiHop]

My 6 year old wears one when we're on public transport. The more people who wear them reduces the risk for all of us.

[flaviaritt]

oh I understand its just the idea in general you aren't on board with. I thought the actual mask was the issue.

The actual mask is the issue. I don’t want my small child forced to wear one and I won’t force her to because I think it’s very wrong.

[Nonamesavail]

Mine can wear them BUT they touch them constantly....

[Sockwomble]

It's not frightening but it should be accepted that some children won't be able to wear one. Ds (severely autistic) cannot wear one but has become accepting of other people wearing them such as sometimes staff at his special school.

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

The whole unless SEN thing is bollocks.

A) some kids with additional needs will be happier in a mask.

B) getting a diagnosis takes fucking years. Some parents haven't even noticed that their child has additional needs at 2/3/4/5/whatever. So how can SEN kids be deemed exempt when you don't know which kids do have additional needs, or if those additional needs impact mask wearing.

C) kids without additional needs will still struggle to keep hands off masks and wear them appropriately given the fact they are children...

D) millions of adults can't wear them appropriately, so I'd estimate that oooooh...100% of 6 year olds will also wear them and treat them inappropriately. Because that's the nature of a child.

[theamplifier]

I'm also in a place with compulsory masks. My children (6-16) complained for a week or so then just got on with it.

I do sympathise with those whose children throw tantrums over having to wear a mask, that sounds very difficult. I have not ever seen a child have that reaction, they just all wear them here and it's normal. Funnily enough, we've had a very low rate of transmission and very low deaths.

When the virus has been dealt with, we'll go back to not wearing masks and it'll just be a memory.

[LindaEllen]

It's only frightening if you put it in their head that it's frightening.

[IceCreamAndCandyfloss]

Most children will be absolutely fine with wearing one, no different t Halloween masks, superman costumes etc. It’s the parents reaction and response that will determine their actions to it in the main.

I’ve seen younger children than six wearing them, one away very proud of her princess mask.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

My mum made some for kids of friends in a spring. They had kids motifs and were actually quite fun. They are fine with it (bar the medical exceptions obviously). As long as the adults don't make it into a big deal...

[Shantotto]

@theamplifier

I'm also in a place with compulsory masks. My children (6-16) complained for a week or so then just got on with it.

I do sympathise with those whose children throw tantrums over having to wear a mask, that sounds very difficult. I have not ever seen a child have that reaction, they just all wear them here and it's normal. Funnily enough, we've had a very low rate of transmission and very low deaths.

When the virus has been dealt with, we'll go back to not wearing masks and it'll just be a memory.

Your 5 year old becoming incredibly distressed over having to cover his mouth or nose is not the same as them having a tantrum because you won’t buy them a bloody kinder egg. It is not a tantrum it is genuine fear and distress.

[Sockwomble]

"I do sympathise with those whose children throw tantrums over having to wear a mask, that sounds very difficult"

It can be a lot more than mere tantrums.

[SleepingStandingUp]

I do think the biggest issue with kids is that so many adults can't wear them correctly (why can I see your nose?) then would I trust my 5 yo to wear one properly (when he took it off to show the lady who was on it 🙄🙄)

[MessAllOver]

One thing I've wondered when reading stories of families thrown off planes in the US because their toddlers won't wear masks is if you're allowed to physically restrain them by tieing them up and then putting a mask on them or whether the airlines would frown on that too? Surely the only way to make a 2 year old refusing to wear a mask actually wear one is to physically force them to wear it (not that I'd ever do that)? So why do the airlines seem to blame the parents?

[Sockwomble]

You would have to sedate ds to keep a mask on him.

[Oulidae]

Children manage just fine with masks, of course as with adults there will be a small number of exceptions. I don't understand why some want to make such a fuss over a what is in the grand scheme of things at worst a minor inconvenience

[cobaltred]

I have a 2 year old and I'm glad we don't live somewhere where it would be compulsory for her to wear one (we're in England). I don't think she would be frightened but it wouldn't be comfortable and I'd never consider encouraging her to wear one voluntarily. Personally I only wear one as an adult where it's legally required, and although it covers my nose and mouth it's a structured mask which sits away from my face so lots of air gaps around the sides.

[qazxc]

6yr old DD hasn't had any problem wearing hers. As for the masks being frightening, surely it's someone else (especially an adult) wearing a mask that would have the potential to scare a child. But then again hasn't been an issue here.
I don't know how useful they will be in such young children though, how do you stop them touching mask, fiddling with it?

[Hullabaloo31]

Kids are usually all over dressing up masks! It'll only be a fuss if you make it one.

[Devilesko]

All of you wearing masks and the rate still going up, works dunnit?

[saraclara]

There will be a very few children who can't manage - especially the pre-school aged ones.

It's incumbent on adults to help their kids see it as a novel, unthreatening and even fun thing to wear for a while. But at the same time, if you see a stranger's child struggling or not wearing one, let's be a bit more tolerant than some of the public have been with adults who can't.

To be honest, I think kids whose parents won't let them wear one, purely because they don't agree with it, are making their kids stand out as different. Which is rarely a good idea. As for keeping them out of school and away from their friends to avoid maks wearing... Well I wonder what the child would prefer, if it wasn't for the fact that their parent has instilled them with 'masks are a terrible thing'?

[saraclara]

@Devilesko

All of you wearing masks and the rate still going up, works dunnit?

Imagine how high the rate would be if we weren't wearing them.

[flaviaritt]

It's only frightening if you put it in their head that it's frightening.

Nonsense. I am very positive about masks in front of my child. She still doesn’t want her nose and mouth covered up, and forcing her to have them covered would distress her.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

@Devilesko

All of you wearing masks and the rate still going up, works dunnit?

Kids at schools don't wear them and the biggest spread is at people's homes.