Lincoln pediatrician stresses importance of in-person schooling and students wearing masks

With in-person schooling a crucial scenario for a lot of children, it’s important to start preparing for potential changes.

With in-person schooling a crucial scenario for a lot of children, it’s important to start preparing for potential changes.

As the risk of COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind, Dr. Phil Boucher says social distancing, good hygiene and wearing a mask will be important this upcoming school year.

However, with little ones constantly moving and having a short attention span, it begs the question; how do you prepare them for wearing a mask at school?

“If you can frame it in, we are helping keep your teacher safe, we are helping keep your principal safe, we are helping keep grandma and grandpa safe, your neighbors safe. If you can frame it in that way, then its really easy for kids to understand,” Dr. Boucher said.

On top of that, mirroring the behavior of wearing your mask when you go out and run errands could be beneficial for kids to grasp the concept.

“We don’t expect them to wear it 100 percent perfect all the time. But the more time they can spend with their mask on when they aren’t eating, when they aren’t exercising or playing outside, the more we can limit the spread from child to child,” Dr. Boucher said.

A big question for some parents, what about kids who might face learning disabilities or special needs and just simply can’t wear a mask?

“There is certainly a lot of things we can do in terms of mask type or face shields. There is a lot of things we can do in those situations for children who aren’t able to tolerate wearing a mask,” the doctor said.

Talking with your teacher, therapist and principal will help everyone navigate that scenario.

While Lincoln Public Schools hasn’t officially made a decision whether mask will be required, Dr. Boucher said he believes, it’s a must.