Many individuals may be returning to school or in-person therapy, so below we are sharing resources to help children with ASD wear a mask and stay safe!
First, it is important to recognize what the school’s expectations are for individuals with special needs. Depending on the age and cognitive abilities of the child, they may be exempt from wearing a mask or have other individualized accommodations based on CDC guidelines.
Gradual Introduction
Introducing a mask gradually can set your child up for success if they are required to wear one. For example, if your child has observed others wearing masks but has not needed to wear one yet, they may have a hard time adjusting to the expectation to wear one all day at school. However, implementing some of the ideas below can help your child slowly adjust to wearing a mask!
Social Story or Video
A social story or animated video can help explain the importance of wearing a mask, and how to wear a mask. There are many free social stories available, and there are stories for different age groups. We recommend reviewing these with your child a few times a week to help their understanding of why everyone is wearing a mask. There are also interactive Boom Cards that review hand washing and social distancing behaviors!
Countdown to Return to School
A countdown can prepare a child for their expected date to return to school. A few weeks before your child's return date, you can start a countdown with them by making a paper chain together or marking it on the calendar together. Depending on the child’s needs, they may need more or less time to prepare for school. If their school is offering a hybrid of virtual days and in-person days, you can also mark which days of the week they will go to school if possible.
Normalize Wearing a Mask
When introducing a mask, it can be helpful to wear a mask yourself or have your child's toys wear masks! You can use play with your child as a chance to work through situations with their stuffed animals or action figures wearing masks. You can even encourage family members to send pictures wearing masks as well! If your child is able to observe that people they trust are wearing masks, it can help ease their fear around wearing one.
Provide Choices
If possible, you can allow your child to pick out his or her own mask or fabric to make one. When your child is able to make choices about their mask, it helps provide them with control over a situation that can feel overwhelming and out of control for so many of us. For individuals with sensory sensitivities, a mask can be especially challenging. If possible, we recommend trying soft fabric masks if your child appears irritated by the texture of their mask.
Use Clear Masks
When possible, we encourage you to utilize masks with clear windows so that your child can read your lips and view your facial expressions. This is especially important for individuals on the spectrum who have difficulty with recognizing emotions or with speech.
Increase Tolerance Gradually
Similarly to introducing a countdown for when school starts again, you can gradually increase the amount of time that your child is expected to wear a mask. First, you can help your child hold the mask to their face. Then, you can encourage them to put the mask on for a few seconds. As the child becomes more comfortable, you can support them by increasing the time that they wear the mask each day, and reward them by giving high-fives and tickles.
Comment below how these tips have helped you prepare your child to wear a mask!
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