To think my 5 year old shouldn't have to wear a face mask in school?

[Jumpers268]

Head teacher has stated all children at my son's primary school need to wear face masks when arriving & leaving school and going around the school building (toilet, library etc).

I'm not anti masks or anything but I posted the other day about my son being a compulsive chewer of his tops (fixed, touch wood, by getting chewelry) and I just can't see him keeping a mask on, not continuously touching it or not chewing it (which surely defeats the whole point in wearing one ). The exemption list on the gov website states children under 11 so does that mean his school have to let him in without a mask?

Anyhoo... If you think I'm being unreasonable do you have any tips? Pack 500 masks in his book bag?

Thank you 😊😊.

It's a good job you're not in Scotland, 5yo's have had to wear masks there for quite some time.

But some washable ones and pack a few in a wee pencil case. He'll get used to it

*Buy

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows oh I know! And I also know that some countries children even younger have had to wear masks all day! It's more specific to my son's sensory issues. Thank you though, appreciate you commenting .

Well kids in other countries have managed so I'm sure your son will get used to it.
Just give him a few masks and a bag for dirty masks. The school will go over mask hygiene I'm sure so the children will know what to do.

As long as you provide him with some, then you’re doing what’s asked of you. It’s up to the school to enforce it if they feel the need, let them get on with it. They will already know that some children won’t tolerate them or that they will be rendered pointless because of chewing or whatever, don’t worry about it.

@NailsNeedDoing he'll obviously be wearing 1 on entering school. How many extra ones do you think I should pack? Thank you! He has a few sensory issues that have gotten worse since schools closed so was concerned that he's get a "telling off" for chewing the mask when it's a compulsion that he can't actually help. He'd chew his sensory Lego necklace but obviously with a mask on he can't.

@saffire thank you

Asda do lacks of 3 kids masks, buy 2 packs to start with so he has six and see how you get on

I would make the school aware that he has had issues with chewing cloth and is likely to do so.

But generally children are pretty good at accepting school rules that are completely different to the way they behave at home. They are fairly adaptable to being told this is what you need to do in school and following it. For example, putting your hand up if you want to go the the toilet, etc.

I know mask wearing seems alien, but I do think we underestimate the resilience of children at times. Sitting still at a desk for a lot of the day and working quietly is also a tricky task, but most of them manage to do it in school. I think the fact that everyone round them is doing the same helps.

You never know, the mask might mean he stops chewing things all the time as his mouth is effectively screened off.

@Fastestbrownie I don't think that's entirely fair and not at all what I was saying in my OP. But thank you for the helpful tip!

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows thank you! I'll pick a few packs up tomorrow! Want to get him used to it anyway so we'll do some practice runs .

@Fastestbrownie

Your son is five, not two. There are 5 year olds out there dancing full dance routines, acting in films, playing piano pieces, caring for sibilings, doing housework. I think he will survive wearing a piece of fabric over his mouth. He is not incompetent.

What a shitty post. How many 5 year olds are carers, proper actors, and do meaningful housework? Don't be so bloody ridiculous. And this 5 old has sensory issues and is a compulsive chewer! OP, if he does compulsively chew the mask then he will simply have to be exempted, I'm sure it won't be a problem. Please ignore idiots like the one above.

It sounds as if it's only going to be while they move around the school - possibly only arrival and departure for the littlies (EYFS staff know what they're like, even if the head doesn't). He can't do much damage in 2 minutes.
I think the biggest issue is that either they're going to need a clean mask each time they need one, or a system to make sure they are stored sensibly between uses and go back on the same way round, or they'll be little use.

Speak to school and see what support measures they can put in place ahead of him returning, they should have guidance worked out on what to do with children who can't wear them or will have difficulty wearing them correctly. This might include prompting him to use it correctly, reminding him to change it if he does chew it, or exempting him from wearing it altogether. They can't exclude him or penalise him for not wearing it. I've got a phone appointment with secondary-age DS school tomorrow about it as he won't be able to wear a mask all day and won't have the twice weekly testing done so I need it written into his support plan.

My 5 YEAR OLD wearing a mask over his mouth and nose all day, every day? Absolutely no way in hell.

@InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream yeah I actually cried hahaha. Been a tough day though so weren't sure if I was being too sensitive for MN. He has been re-referred for possible ASD and/or SPD and his teacher is aware. She's also aware of his chewelry as I wanted to make sure he'd be okay wearing it in school. I just didn't want to be "one of them parents" if that makes sense? Thank you so much for your comment.

Your son is five, not two. There are 5 year olds out there dancing full dance routines, acting in films, playing piano pieces, caring for sibilings, doing housework. I think he will survive wearing a piece of fabric over his mouth. He is not incompetent.

OP's son has sensory issues and potential ASD (if I remember your previous posts correctly, OP?), but crack on with your shitty ableist post.

Typical Mumsnet comments, if my kids school introduce masks they won’t be going!

@lanthanum thank you! I did think I'd have to pack so many to make even somewhat useful.

@FoxyTheFox I'm pretty sure you commented on my chewing post and were so helpful then (there were a lot of comments so apologies if I'm wrong). I'll speak to his teacher later in the week (I think she's been inundated by messages and don't want to make her job any more stressful at the minute) and see what she says!

[quote Jumpers268]@InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream yeah I actually cried hahaha. Been a tough day though so weren't sure if I was being too sensitive for MN. He has been re-referred for possible ASD and/or SPD and his teacher is aware. She's also aware of his chewelry as I wanted to make sure he'd be okay wearing it in school. I just didn't want to be "one of them parents" if that makes sense? Thank you so much for your comment.[/quote]
You weren't being too sensitive at all. I think FastestBrownie just likes to make other parents feel inadequate. I expect her children are geniuses.

Why don't you get him used to it now by going on walks with him wearing a face mask? My son is of a similar age and we got him a spiderman one which loves. Happily wears it and like your son, is normally chewing on his clothes.

Honestly I feel bad for the schools with parents objecting to something before it’s even started!! Why don’t you start getting your son to wear a mask and get him used to it before he goes back to school?!! He’s old enough to do as he’s told and this is perfect example to teach him how to behave.

Is there a way to lengthen the chewelry string/lanyard so he can tuck it under the mask when he feels the need to chew?

I've become a real whiz at tucking bendy-straws under a mask to drink liquids without disturbing the mask too much, hopefully he'll be able to do something similar with the chewelry.

@NovemberR sorry I missed your comment! Thank you 😊.

@Bluetrews25 thank you 😊.

@CaffineismyBFF yes I'll buy some tomorrow and see how we got on. Thank you!