DETROIT – Since last year a Canton nursery has had kids wearing masks when they come in and out of the building. On Monday, kids had masks on all day there except for when they were eating or napping.
“I don’t really think this was a big deal for a lot of the kids,” said Mary Ann Fraser, director of the Canton based Real Life Nursery School.
She says day one of the state’s mask mandate for kids aged 2-4 was not difficult.
Read more: Parents react to Michigan’s mask mandate expanding to children as young as 2
“Today was actually a pretty good day. I went around to all the classrooms and noticed the kids all have their masks on, and I go good job boys and girls, give yourself a high five,” said Fraser.
Dr. Hannan AlSahlani is a mom of four and owns Serenity Pediatrics in Bloomfield Hills. She says like anything it took some time for her youngest to get used to wearing a mask.
“In the beginning it was a challenge, I’m not gonna lie, it was just new and different for a three year old, it’s challenging to have a mask on,” said Dr. AlSahlani.
She has some simple tips for parents.
“First one is just leading by example. They can role play as well. So they can try it on their dolls or their superheroes or their dinosaurs. The other thing is glam it up a little bit you know make it make the mask, interesting,” she said.
The most important thing is that the mask is comfortable.
“If they’re complaining about it behind their ears or need to find something that’s really comfortable and compatible, and then let them practice with it as well, making a little game out of it can be really helpful as well,” said Dr. AlSahlani.
She says there’s no literature or studies that say wearing masks at a young age will induce fear or panic that depends on your delivery.
“If they’re like, wear this mask or your friends will die, that’s going to, you know imply something very, very different than Hey Look buddy, this is what everyone’s doing, and this is what we have to do to keep everyone safe,” said AlSahlani.