Coronavirus. Mask from 6 years old: but what will we say to children?

The inevitable happened. The Covid-19 is catching up with our lives and forces us again to keep our distance from each other. Finally, not everywhere: like colleges and high schools, elementary schools are summoning students from Monday, November 2 with an unprecedented and strong measure: the obligation to wear the mask from the age of 6. All day long, recess included …

If you haven’t already, you have a few hours to break the news to your toddlers. Josette Cordier, parenting professional in northern Moselle, enlightens us on the subject. Instructive.

How can we explain to children, and in particular to the youngest, that it is now compulsory to wear the mask when it was not so far?

Josette Cordier, sophrologist : “I would be of the opinion to explain the instructions as simply as possible, without necessarily trying to explain the detail. Of course, you have to remain open to children’s questions, but I don’t think it’s worth trying to anticipate ”.

Do you mean to avoid unnecessarily distressing them?

“We tend to want to explain everything to the youngest; this is not always necessary at the time. I am sure that some children will not ask questions and will simply accept the instruction. For months, they have seen masked adults, their masked teachers. Some, moreover, already wear it: it is something that has entered their daily lives. I think it should be less brutal than if they had been imposed overnight last spring ”.

Nevertheless, it will be necessary to approach the discussion, if it has not already been done …

“To be able to discuss it calmly, it is first of all to be clear with yourself and with your own emotions. Whether one is angry, sad, distressed, or conversely relieved to see the children wearing the mask. The simplest thing remains to approach the subject of the rule: remember that there are rules everywhere (at home, at work, on the road, etc.) and that a new one is added which is to wear the mask at school. Everyone has the right to disagree with the rule, but respecting it is one of the criteria for living together. This is where it all starts ”.

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Without prejudging the effectiveness of the measure, do you think that 6-year-olds will manage to support the little piece of cloth all day?

“We must not hide our face: they will touch it, remove it, put it back, pass the pencil underneath to chew on it… The main thing is that the rule be accepted. The group effect will work: all friends will wear the mask; that will be simpler “.

You seem to think that this adaptation could be done easily …

“Please note: I am not minimizing the impact of this measure, but we know that children have an extraordinary ability to adapt. It’s more up to adults not to project their emotions, whatever they are, onto their children. Let them experience things as they come, obviously listening to them. In three or four days, ask them how they feel and only their feelings, with questions still open ”.

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