Friday, July 10, 2020 3Brooklin Town Crier Masks Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown A few months ago, the only time I would consider wearing a mask was at Halloween. Usually it would be to a party and I would have it on for about 30 minutes until enticed for longer by a drink. Fast forward to 2020 and masks are now a must-have accessory. But kids aren't always willing to wear them. Just like we fight with them to wear boots and snow pants in the winter, getting kids to wear masks can be a challenge. I get it. We have to wear masks to protect ourselves and others from something we can't even see. We're lucky not to have many cases in Brooklin. But often for kids, they don't understand the danger until they see it. So how do we get kids to comply with wearing masks? Who complies easiest Let's start with the sweet spot: children aged 8 through 12 are more likely to accept the mask. Why? Well, it's the rules. The law says to wear one. Mom and Dad say to wear one. Most of their friends are wearing them. However, if you have a child in this age group who isn't keen on them, you can reason with them. Explain how it keeps them and their friends safe. You know this age group loses things, so buy in bulk. For the younger ones ages 2 to 7, refusing to wear a mask is all about comfort; they find them hot, itchy, and in the way. Start by getting them used to wearing it at home for short periods. Slowly increase the time until they're used to it. Disney and Universal make some great fun masks with their favourite characters that can be ordered online. These are soft cotton and may encourage kids to wear them. One great trick is to sew buttons onto a hat and loop the elastics around the buttons. This makes it more secure and harder to pull off. As for teens, it can be hard to make them wear one when their friends aren't. But letting them pick out a cool athlete one or a simple black or white one might help. Tell them to keep it in their back pocket or backpack. Then let them decide what to do. In most cases, they will make the right choice. Supply the tool and let them be the one to use it. Trust them and they will make good decisions. Don't forget: kids do best following guidelines when parents lead by example. continued from page 2 Only if you refuse to comply or leave and persist in behaving like a puerile moron. "And I will not pay any fine!" Life is all about choices, isn't it? Besides, enforcement is to be "in good faith." Which means stomping your feet and decrying government interference in your right to be disrespectful won't cost you anything except for the sneering of onlookers. "I know my rights." Do you? Have you read the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? Start with that and get back to me. "I won't ever shop there again. Ever." Bye. "There's no medical consensus that they work." Please refer to Florida - and Texas - and Arizona - and California - and… "Masks - Social distancing... It's all overkill!" Bingo. You hit the magic word: kill. As in, the virus kills people. "You expect me to tell my teenagers to put on a mask in a store?" Yes. It's called parenting. "I find them hard to breathe in or talk." T h e n … … . . . s p e a k … … . verrrrrrrryyyy…...sssslllloooowwwwwllllyyy. "I haven't worn a mask yet and can't be bothered with this social distancing stuff. I'm still here." Please send me a photo of yourself. I'll post it in the paper so everyone knows to stay away when you're anywhere.