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face masks

  • 1.  face masks

    Posted 04-23-2020 03:33 PM
    ​We are a hospital based center and recently it was mandated that everyone, including parents, must mask on hospital property.  This morning we started this and the children were quite upset, especially the infants and toddlers.  Does anyone have suggestions on how to make this less traumatic for the children?  It breaks our heart when they are sobbing when they look at us.  Thanks for your ideas and suggestions.

    ------------------------------
    Dawn Justman
    Antigo WI
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-23-2020 04:50 PM
    I've been concerned about this too and started doing some research on masks and young children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently posted this article:
    https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/masks-and-children-during-covid-19/

    I think the suggestions from the article are helpful:
    • Put a mask on a favorite stuffed animal. 
    • Decorate a mask so it's more personalized and fun. 
    • Draw a mask on their favorite book character.
    It also occurs to me that we can learn from our early childhood colleagues who wear scarves and veils (Hijab and Niqab). It would be great to hear from those who are experienced in helping young children understand why people sometimes cover their faces.

    Thank you,
    Ann Gadzikowski
    Britannica Early Learning
    Chicago

    ------------------------------
    Ann Gadzikowski
    Director of Early Learning
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Evanston IL
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-23-2020 07:40 PM
    Here is another good resource:

    How Wearing Face Masks Can Impact Children's Ability to Read Emotions

    https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2020/04/21/are-you-happy-or-sad-how-wearing-face-masks-can-impact-childrens-ability-to-read-emotions/



    ------------------------------
    Ann Gadzikowski
    Director of Early Learning
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Evanston IL
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-24-2020 07:18 AM
    Here are several strategies that people are experimenting with (because at this point, no one knows for sure!):
    1. People who serve communities that use sign language and lip reading are cutting out the middle of a cloth mask and replacing it with clear plastic so they can see one another's mouths and facial expressions. Because it's not cloth it must be carefully cleaned several times a day.
    2. People have printed photos of the bottom half of their face onto their mask.
    3. People who have no way to print on the mask directly are finding ways to attach photos of the bottom part of their face to their mask. There isn't really a way to clean the photos, so they'd need to be replaced each day. And they can't be attached too tightly or you won't be able to breath through the mask.
    4. People are just wearing masks and understanding that it will be a transition for the children but they'll get used to it.
    Good luck and a MAJOR thank you for providing child care for essential workers.

    ------------------------------
    Faith Rogow
    Media Literacy Education Maven
    Insighters Education
    Ithaca NY
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-24-2020 07:19 AM
    Good Morning Dawn,

    I also work with preschoolers in NJ and we are still waiting to hear about when and how we will be reopening. My suggestion would be to make it into a game. You could record yourself playing peek-a-boo with your smile, maybe sing a song to go with it. You may want to share that with families at home so the morning drop-off isn’t the first time the children encounter you with a mask. "Make a peek-a-boo guess who" bulletin board and maybe a smaller version for a memory game which has photos of the staff with and without masks. You could also add some silly eye masks just to mixi it up and make it feel more like a game. Again if this was in the hallway or near the door it would be a spot that the children could engage with it with their parents before they enter as well as in the classroom. It could also be printed and gathered into a notebook for the children to look thourgh. I would try to put a smile or lipstick lips on the mask when you where it and finally I saw that my local hospital is wearing a photo of themselves to ease tension of not being able to see the nurse or doctor.

    I hope this helps :) Be well!

    Annie




  • 6.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-24-2020 08:22 AM
    This is a big fear and obstacle.  When you take away facial recognition and expressions it definitely creates a barrier for connection.  I saw the idea for face shields with a clear front...not sure if it will help or stand up to quality and protocol or masks during this time.  Just a thought.  https://youtu.be/w2_fzooIKNU

    ------------------------------
    Kelly Wine
    Early Childhood Specialist/Consultant
    Calhoun ISD
    Charlotte MI
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-24-2020 10:30 AM
    ​In Maryland we were told not to use on 2 and under and especially not during naps.  We are in a hospital setting as well and we must all wear masks on campus and when parents and staff gather. Children need masks as they are entering from their car or leaving the Center to go to their cars.  Parents have been great encouraging this,

    ------------------------------
    Bonnie Hendershot
    Director
    JHBMC Child Dev. Center
    Dundalk MD
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-24-2020 02:17 PM
    We just reopened this week and we are having the children that are 2/12 and up wear the masks, but not during nap time.  One of our parents made mask for our students and our staff so they are colorful and fun.  The younger ones have been inconsistent with wearing them but our 3 & ups have done a fairly good job of wearing them.  Initially we made play oriented and part of routine for getting ready for the day.  We wash our hands and put on our masks.  Each child has their name written on their masks.

    Each day we send the masks home along with there pillows and blankets to be washed.  Previously we only sent blankets and pillows home on Fridays.  It's more work for the parents, but we feel it is adding another layer of protection for everyone since the children do not wear the masks at nap time.  Probably will keep this routine in place for the next few weeks.

    ------------------------------
    Tim Kaminski
    Director/Owner
    Gingerbread Kids Academy
    Richmond TX
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-25-2020 08:01 AM
    Thanks to all for the resources and ideas about masks.  Centers have already contacted us about helping them to think about re-opening on the Massachusetts re-opening date of June 29th.  I'll add these ideas to our discussions.

    ------------------------------
    Aren Stone
    she/her/hers
    Child Development Specialist
    The Early Years Project
    Cambridge, MA
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-24-2020 07:20 PM
    Hi Dawn,
    On a recent webinar I saw, the presenter suggested creating a laminated "book" telling the story of putting on facemasks. You could embed the actual book making into an activity with children (depending on developmental level) and have them be the models for the photos. The book could be about morning routines and include other things too.

    ------------------------------
    Jill Bella
    Director of Professional Learning
    McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership
    Wheeling IL
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-25-2020 11:22 AM
      |   view attached
    Thank you for this post and all of these great suggestions and links.   Below is the best Mask Social Story that I have found and the author does give permission to share it.
    There is another one on her website about seeing others out wearing masks.  These are very short and kid friendly.
    We are a private preschool school and currently closed but I plan to email this to parents and share on our Facebook page for all.  
    Thank you for all of these great suggestions and be safe!

    ------------------------------
    Carol Hansen
    Director
    GLEE Preschool
    Mechanicsburg PA
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)



  • 12.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-26-2020 02:23 PM
    Just sharing the CDC recommendations that speak to age - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
         Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children younger than 2 years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise         unable to remove the cover without assistance.

    ------------------------------
    Kimberly Early
    Director of Public Policy and Advocacy
    PennAEYC
    Harrisburg PA
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-27-2020 09:50 PM
    Hi Dawn:
    My center is not hospital based, but I have been brainstorming how to introduce the whole mask idea to our kids if it becomes a policy: modeling by putting my mask on when I arrive in the classroom and explain what it is for, do make-believe play with masked characters in dramatic play( I heard this suggested by several teachers), also make it a game. Our kids love to play Superheroes, so I was thinking of encouraging them to use it and play Superhero. I think with time, kids will adjust to seeing people wearing masks and themselves wearing one, but it is very hard to see them be upset as they transition. Maybe some of your parents could help facilitate mask play at home to keep making the idea more of a normal/less scary habit:) 

    Good luck! I hope this helps!

    Tricia

    ------------------------------
    Tricia Bricker
    Milwaukee WI
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-27-2020 09:52 PM
    I would also add that anyone child under 2 is not supposed to wear a mask for safety reasons. So if you are being required to do that, I would check with management about mask wearing for the infants and toddler ages.

    ------------------------------
    Tricia Bricker
    Milwaukee WI
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-28-2020 08:27 AM
    ​First off thank you so much for all your ideas and thoughts.  I was not very clear I guess because I was referring to staff masking...not the children.  We were struggling with our infants because they did not know their caregivers with the masks on....pretty unhappy.  After some research and discussion with our infection specialist at the it was decided that the teachers in the infant/toddler rooms would not wear masks.  The reasoning behind this is per the CDC, developmentally these children need to learn to read facial expressions and respond appropriately.  When a teacher wears a mask they cannot do this and it could impede their normal development.  Our parents still mask when they enter the building and all adults are temped each day.  So far in my county we do not have any cases of Covid19.

    Again thank you very much for all your ideas and responses.  Dawn

    ------------------------------
    Dawn Justman
    Antigo, WI
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-28-2020 12:51 PM
    You're so welcome! This is a new idea for everybody, so I am learning just like you. Thank you for clarifying what you meant; I was pretty sure you wouldn't be putting masks on the infants:) I do see how wearing masks would be developmentally confusing for the younger ones, especially the infants, at the same time I also know children can be carriers of this and any other sickness and if any teachers are vulnerable, it could be a problem. But I am sure your infection specialist knows the best course of action to take. Maybe wearing masks could be worn only during times of exercise times when the most risky time would be, but no masks, just for down time, learning center play. 

    That is awesome that you have no cases as of yet! I hope it stays that way! Any ideas you learn from your end, would be great tips for everyone else. Keep sharing,

    Tricia
    Assistant EHS Teacher

    ------------------------------
    Tricia Bricker
    Milwaukee WI
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: face masks

    Posted 04-28-2020 01:00 PM
    i am attempting to get fun, kid-themed masks made by a local artist, for our kids if they decide they would like to wear one( superhero, animal characters) at home or the center, so they are not so for-boding and scary. I think kids would also be able to tell a fair amount of meaning from seeing eye expressions. For our kiddos I think the biggest hurdle would be recognizing us. Masks could be scary if they look like a hospital or halloween time. But a fun-time play mask practice could help, along with a laminated picture book/craft stick puppets of teachers' facial expressions. The teacher makes a puppet character out of it and uses the right one accordingly. What do you think?

    ------------------------------
    Tricia Bricker
    Milwaukee WI
    ------------------------------



  • 18.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 07:00 PM
    Dawn,

    I am part of a CCR &R agency in Montana and two of my co-workers in Provider Services created Scripted Stories about caregivers wearing masks.  You can find the scripted stories here:  https://cccmontana.org/images/uploads/COVID-19_Masks_Book_Young_Kids-_UPDATED_4.23.20.pdf  (link for 0- 3 years) and https://cccmontana.org/images/uploads/COVID-19_Social_Story_Masks_Older_Kids-_4.23.20_4.pdf (link for 4 and up).  These scripted stories can be printed and laminated and shared with the children or can be shown on the computer.  We have shared these with other resource and Referral agencies in Montana and Child Care Aware of America.  Everyone is free to use these and share as needed, just please leave our group's name information on there.  Thanks. 

    ------------------------------
    Tamara Christofferson
    New Provider Support Specialist
    Child Care Connections
    Bozeman MT
    ------------------------------



  • 19.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-13-2020 01:25 PM
    These are both awesome books!  Thank you so much for sharing!

    ------------------------------
    Aloha,
    Catherine Awong
    Director
    Mililani Presbyterian Preschool
    Mililani, HI, USA
    ------------------------------



  • 20.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-13-2020 02:19 PM
    Thanks.  Spanish versions coming by next week.

    ------------------------------
    Tamara Christofferson
    New Provider Support Specialist
    Child Care Connections
    Bozeman MT
    ------------------------------



  • 21.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-09-2020 01:41 PM
    In addition to being an ECE Director/Owner, I spent over 25 years working as a Speech Language Pathologist in multiple settings with both children and adults.  One of the advantages our center has, is that although I am the director, I am also on hand to screen for speech and language development disorders with all of our students.  When we reopened our center 3 weeks ago, after being closed for 3 weeks, it was quite an adjustment for all of us, to have to try to implement all of the new CDC safety protocols.  The one new protocol that has been the hardest for the children and the staff to adjust to is that the Staff are required to wear mask while in the building or classrooms.  Although the 3 years old and older students have done better with change, I have noticed that the quality and clarity of the teachers speech is significantly reduced while wearing the mask.  It is a much more muted and muffled sound.

    After noticing that, I started to wonder what would be the possible impact of the speech and language development of our infant and toddlers.  Sure enough, the sound quality issues were the same in both of those classrooms.  The way children learn speech, language, intonation and various inflection patterns is through site and sound.  Babies will intently look at a caregivers face while the caregiver is speaking to them.  If their head is turned away when they hear their name or a sound, they will start to look around to discover wear the sound came from.  In addition the infants look at the caregivers eyes, lip and cheeks that give clues about whether the care giver is happy, sad, angry or mad.  You will often see an infant or even a toddler try to move their lips around imitating what the care giver's lips are doing while speaking.  They may also try to reach outwith their hands to touch the lips or face while the caregiver is speaking.  All of these different elements of speech, language, hearing and social language recognition, can only be developed by the young child being able to fully visibility interact with the caregiver.

    However, when a caregiver is wearing a mask, all of those speech and language clues disappear or they are diminished.  It is just one of the many unintended consequences of the new Safety protocols.  We obviously want to keep our staff and the children safe, but we must recognize that the trade offs for safety could cause significant delays in speech and language development,especially among young children.

    I don't have any answers to this deli ma yet, but for those of you that have adapted the masks as part of your protocols, I wanted to share my observations with you, so that we could collectively start thinking about some possible solutions.

    Looking forward to your thoughts and comments.

    Tim Kaminski, M.S. CCC/SLP

    ------------------------------
    Tim Kaminski
    Director/Owner
    Gingerbread Kids Academy
    Richmond TX
    ------------------------------


  • 22.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-10-2020 08:08 AM
    You have raised concerns I am also worried about. While not perfect, masks with clear plastic, such  as those for folks who gave hearing impairments, may be needed to help our younger children.

    ------------------------------
    Connie Prairie
    President SWOAEYC
    Director Prairie Educational Solutions LLC
    Cincinnati OH 45224
    ------------------------------



  • 23.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-10-2020 09:45 AM
    This is a great concern. I hope that  we will not be wearing masks long enough for it to effect the different developments like speech or even emotions little kids learn from watching the face. Special needs kids that already have delays will also be a concern because they can't get the face to face and help through touch. There honestly is not a fix for this besides family. We can send emails and other communication to the family letting them know that they need to be working with them at home.

    ------------------------------
    Hilary Peak
    Preschool/Toddler Teacher
    Worcester JCC
    Worcester MA
    ------------------------------



  • 24.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-10-2020 01:14 PM
    Wearing masks when we re-open has been a huge concern for me , for so many reasons .  When we reopen , our children will have been away from us for sixteen weeks - that is a very long time to be apart.  When they do return to our centers , our care, they may be returning with , separation and stranger anxiety .   Imagine being greeted by a now "unfamiliar" adult wearing a mask !  I agree , the sound of our voices and our much needed facial expressions are going to be different and in some cases unrecognizable .  I think of running in to people at the store , who I know , but don't recognize them , now that they're wearing a mask .  Their voices are different !    I agree that the length of time that we are required to wear face coverings will determine the amount  and level of speech delays observed.   As educators , we should be looking for other alternatives that are safe as well as appropriate for us to wear,  as teachers of young children ,with developing  speech and language.  Although maybe not perfect , masks with clear plastic , may be something to consider.  

    ------------------------------
    Diane Barese
    Adjunct Instructor
    Quincy College
    Braintree MA
    ------------------------------



  • 25.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-10-2020 02:21 PM
    As an update to my post yesterday, one solution we are going to try this coming week is to use face shields during diaper changes and during lesson times so that the babies and toddlers can see the caregivers face during those activities and more clearly hear their voices.  The rest of the time they will be wearing the face masks.  I will  let everyone know how this works out.

    Tim

    ------------------------------
    Tim Kaminski
    Director/Owner
    Gingerbread Kids Academy
    Richmond TX
    ------------------------------



  • 26.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 04:15 PM

     

     

    My center has been open as "Pandemic Center", and I work with infants,, trust me wearing a shield will frighten them. We have been wearing just a basic mask and the babies have been just fine with them, as long as they recognize your voice.

     






  • 27.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 08:18 AM
    I have wondered what the long term effects will be of face masks for early childhood.  Not only with speech and language development, but also with social-emotional development.  Facial cues are an integral part of learning how to read other people during conversations.  With most of the face covered by masks, how will young children learn to read faces for emotion?  How will caregivers help co-regulate emotions of distressed children?

    My site has been providing emergency care for essential hospital employees.  Not only are we working with masks, these are not our regularly enrolled families.  I have been impressed with the resilience of the children in our care and how they have adapted to adults with masks.  I haven't seen separation anxiety or stranger danger at an increased rate or severity.  I have noticed in myself that I am intentionally more animated in my eye movements, and I have been putting an effort into enunciation to compensate for the mask somewhat.  I hadn't thought about face shields as an alternative for our youngest age groups, but will be bringing it up with my supervisor now!

    ------------------------------
    Alyssa Lock
    Assistant Director
    YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
    Grand Rapids MI
    ------------------------------



  • 28.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 09:27 AM
    I'm also  Speech-Language Pathologist.  Speech and language is a global neurological drive carried out using all kinds of cues, including visual, and the use of masks can impede that process.  But I also want to inject some hope into the conversation, and that is because the developing brain is SO plastic!  It IS possible that we might see a delay in expected target acquisition - children might develop some of the more visible speech sounds a bit later or a bit differently than we typically see - but speech development is NOT only a collaboration between the vision and the motor centers of the brain!  Just as infants who no longer sleep on their tummies do eventually develop into crawlers, children who see less visible speech production WILL eventually figure out how to make the sounds they are hearing.  Otherwise a child with little or no vision would never develop intelligible speech! 
    As T. Berry Brazleton pointed out long ago, the Central Nervous System pushes the child toward developing all sorts of skills.  Just think about an 8-month-old who is suddenly waking up at night trying to stand up in the crib!
    I agree that asking parents to ramp up their interactions with young children is a good idea  (for SO many reasons!) and that clear masking materials would be great.  But children learn that we love them through our complete body language, not just by looking at our faces.
    I'm just glad that there are parts of our country where people ARE committed to wearing masks, because health and safety are the most basic rights of the children we care for.

    ------------------------------
    Mary Lukas
    Success from the Start
    Iowa City IA
    ------------------------------



  • 29.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 09:28 AM
    Mary F Lukas MA CCC-SLP
    President Iowa AEYC Governing Board

    ------------------------------
    Mary Lukas
    Success from the Start
    Iowa City IA
    ------------------------------



  • 30.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 09:33 AM
    ​I am the director of a hospital based program and during this pandemic, all hospital employees have been required to mask.  When this came through I did some research and forwarded it to our infection control specialist.  Per my research, the CDC does not recommend masking for child care teachers, especially those of infants and toddlers.  Developmentally children must learn to read facial cues and this is not possible when a face is masked.  It was decided that although we would have parents and staff mask when they come into the center.  Once inside, after a brief screening and temperature check, teachers could remove their masks provided they did not leave the center for the day.  I hope this helps.  Dawn

    ------------------------------
    Dawn Justman
    Wausau WI
    ------------------------------



  • 31.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-12-2020 12:56 PM
    Would you mind sharing where you found that information from the CDC? I would like to share it with my director. Thank you.

    ------------------------------
    Tiffany Myers
    Lead Teacher
    Ymca
    Franklin PA
    ------------------------------



  • 32.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-12-2020 01:17 PM
    Instead of face masks, we are having our Infant & Toddler teachers wear clear plastic face shields when working directly with the students in the classroom.  When they are not working directly with the students, they wear the regular masks.

    ------------------------------
    Tim Kaminski
    Director/Owner
    Gingerbread Kids Academy
    Richmond TX
    ------------------------------



  • 33.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-12-2020 01:31 PM
    HI Dawn,
     
    That was a good article. CDC doesn't recommend wearing facemasks for the care of babies or toddlers.  They recommend that hair is pulled back; and a large button down shirt be worn. If when holding a child that the child's secretions get on the shirt to change the button down shirt and wash hands.  They do recommend a mask with screening of parents and children when they present to the daycare.  One way to do this is someone outside the center does the screening like what we do with patients and visitors.  Maybe something to consider have a staff member outside or right when you enter the daycare to greet the parents and children to screen prior to coming in and the rest of day care staff do not have to wear masks. Or if staffing doesn't allow this have staff receiving parents wear masks then take them off the rest of the day when they are caring for children.  We can tell parents that with children's development and well-being staff aren't masking with the care of the children but will mask when interacting with parents when social distancing cannot be maintained. I reached out to public health and they agreed that staff right now don't need to wear masks when caring for children.  We can reevaluate if we start having cases in the community.  This was the reference from CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-schools.html  Let me know if you have questions-Jen     

    I had quite a few people request where the CDC recommendation came from.  This is what our infection prevention specialist at our hospital used as a reference for the recommendation.  I hope this helps.  Dawn


    ------------------------------
    Dawn Justman
    Wausau WI
    ------------------------------



  • 34.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 01:30 PM
    Tim, thank you so much for bringing awareness to this topic. I too am I former SLPA and Speech and Language Clinician in the school system and I wondered about that one day as I was having a hard time understanding what someone was saying through their mask recently.  I also rely on looking at people's lips as they speak sometimes in case I did not catch what they said verbally. So if it is a little challenging for me I can only imagine how it will be for our little ones for speech comprehension and language acquisition. I can only pray that our providers and teachers will be aware of this and the effects of wearing the masks are short lived and do not result in long term damage to their speech and language development.  One thing I can say that might be key during this time is for centers to really promote to the parents how important it is for them to TALK and read to their little ones as much as possible once they are home.  It can't be left totally up to the daycare centers and teachers to promote speech and language.  I am also looking forward to hearing suggestions and comments regarding this matter. Be safe everyone and take care. 

    Warm regards from Florida, 
    Zoe

    ------------------------------
    Zoe Turner
    Professional Development Trainer
    Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas
    Saint Petersburg FL
    ------------------------------



  • 35.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 03:47 PM
    Hello, 
    There was an article about a student developing a clear mask for people who are hard of hearing.   Maybe they could be of use in this situation. 
    She created a gofund me and has reached her goal.  She also lists her email to have one sent to those who need them. 


    https://www.gofundme.com/f/reuasble-masks-for-the-deaf-and-hard-of-hearing?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

    Emily

    ------------------------------
    Emily Hill
    Portland OR
    ------------------------------



  • 36.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 04:05 PM

    For that reason a friend of mine made these with shower curtain material 
    Sent from my iPhone





  • 37.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 04:10 PM
    For hearing impaired


    ------------------------------
    Bonnie Hendershot
    Director
    JHBMC Child Dev. Center
    Dundalk MD
    ------------------------------



  • 38.  RE: face masks

    Posted 08-09-2020 01:14 AM
    This is a huge concern for me as well.  We started our new classes last week, and the children do not have to wear a mask but all teachers and parents that enter do. It definitely makes it more difficult to hear each other and understand.  I have practiced with the children though so they can tell by my eyes if I am smiling. We have signal clues we have been working on this last week to get their attention.  I find myself getting very winded trying to read a story with them and many other activities that I would always do with no concern.  Singing songs and having them try to make letter sounds is horrible with a mask. Little things just do not come out the same. This whole thing is so sad and I am devastated on what our long term ramifications will be from these masks.

    ------------------------------
    Carol Hart
    Frankewing TN
    ------------------------------



  • 39.  RE: face masks

    Posted 08-09-2020 10:11 AM

    Clear Masks  go to KLFY.com ph#337-988-9889 these are being created by a lady in LAFAYETTE LA.

     

    Sent from Mail for Windows 10

     






  • 40.  RE: face masks

    Posted 08-10-2020 10:15 AM
    Hello Everyone!
    Wearing Masks is not easy for anyone in these unprecedented times. It is important to understand the reason why we need to protect and teach out young students in an environment that is safe for them as well as for the teachers who are guiding them. One thing is real as the Science shows us as a society that Covid is no joke. If feeling uncomfortable for a time in day it is better to be healthy and wear the mask - I had a family member who contracted Covid came close for her to rethink her own life at that moment in crisis. There are consequences in not wearing a mask as my family member so often tells me with burning in her nose all the time. That is small price after having Covid. While others are not as lucky. With that said, Cloth masks are breathable and easier on the skin even for our young students. We as a society are in this together.

    Sent from my iPhone




  • 41.  RE: face masks

    Posted 08-10-2020 03:48 PM
    Great thoughts and thanks for sharing Carol. I live in Nashville and was wondering how far your city is from me? I had never heard of it and was curious. 

    Thanks,Tara

    ------------------------------
    Tara Hurdle
    NAEYC Affiliate Advisory Council Chair-Elect
    NAAEYC-Past President
    Nashville, TN
    ------------------------------



  • 42.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-10-2020 01:40 PM
    Hello Everyone ,
    The hardship of teaching PreK and even younger children with mask is indeed a challenge. But understanding the necessity of being safe among our students and others masks is the options. I have spoken to other educators in the field and learned that teachers are buying themselves clear masks do that the young students can visualize your mouth and gestures through these clear masks. They sell them at amazon may be costly but can keep in mind why we need to wear them as precautionary measures during this pandemic crisis. This will be the new norm in hopes of a vaccine is in the future. The feet best to all of us as we are all facing these new moments in our preschools / schools - Millie❤️

    Sent from my iPhone


  • 43.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-10-2020 02:18 PM
    Millie,

    Please see my post regarding the effects of wearing mask and delays in speech and language development for infants and toddlers.  Once solution we have come up with over the weekend is for the Teachers to Use face shields during lesson time and diaper changes and then the rest of the time use the other masks.

    Hope this is helpful,

    Tim Kaminski

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    Tim Kaminski
    Director/Owner
    Gingerbread Kids Academy
    Richmond TX
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  • 44.  RE: face masks

    Posted 05-11-2020 12:09 AM
    My mom made some cloth ones i hope those will work .  I don't want to spend that much if i don't really have to.  Thanks for letting us know about them.  i mean if other teachers want them it might be a different story to buy some for all of the teachers since you say they are costly and all.  Where do you teach?  Having clear ones I see what you are saying.  I also like the idea of them but if i have cloth i might  as well use the ones I have.

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    Michelle Fanwick
    Teacher
    Palo Alto Commuity Child Care
    Palo Alto CA
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  • 45.  RE: face masks

    Posted 08-09-2020 11:21 AM
    We are doing a superhero theme, Superheros in training, with them wearing masks on thier mouths.  We are remote for the first six weeks, but we will have pictures with the kids and staff with the masks so they can guess who thier friends are and without the masks.  To encourage the mask wearing.
    Tina Quealy
    ECE Teacher

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    Tina Quealy
    ECE Teacher
    Evergreen Elemetary
    Wheaton IL
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  • 46.  RE: face masks

    Posted 08-10-2020 08:22 AM
    Hello,
    We are a child development home and have been operating with masks since June 1.  I sewed fabric masks in the kiddos favorite themes and one set alike with their name on the side.  Prior to returning I gave each family a social story I developed in which it introduced the masks. The first week we did activities/games around "Am I smiling?" to help support reading other facial signals.and referred to our mood poster to aid in recognizing emotions with the mask on.  Everything was kept positive and fun (even referring to the masks as "super hero germ fighters"). The kiddos have adapted wonderful (age 2-11).  They have a storage bag in which to keep the mask in while eating and an individual hook to hang it one while playing outside.  Some even choose to wear the mask outside and many often forget to take it off when they are picked up.  The parents are amazed and have remarked that with a positive spin it is very possible.  The masks are kept here and I wash them nightly.  Right now they each have about four to choose from and keep in rotation.  The end lesson for us is to be positive and keep it fun.

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    Joann Gansen
    Dubuque IA
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