Back to School: Masks for Children

Pencil case, books, notebooks, folder, snack, water bottle, hand sanitiser and masks. Yes, we are talking about the new school term and the items that cannot be missing from little ones' school bags for a safe return to school.

September will always be a synonym for fresh starts and changes, and children have certainly felt that this year. Keeping a safe distance from classmates, wearing a mask, washing hands with hand sanitiser...

These are extraordinary measures to make the return to school in 2020 safer, helping to prevent infection and protect both pupils and teachers from Covid-19.

It is also about raising awareness of the importance of masks for children, avoiding crowds and reducing contact. So this year... no sharing snacks.

Masks for children: who should wear them

According to recommendations from the Ministry of Health, mask use in healthy children is recommended from the age of 3, provided the mask is suitable for their size and use is supervised by an adult.

In other words, to stop children touching their mask, teachers or parents should be the ones to put it on and take it off, while making sure they do not keep touching the nose and mouth area.

In the case of children who have tested positive for Covid-19, who have symptoms or who are asymptomatic but positive, they should wear surgical or hygienic masks with UNE certification. And if I do not have children's masks...

Can I put an adult one on them? Depending on their age. If your son or daughter is under 12, then no. They should wear a mask specifically designed for their age range.

Just as a reminder, because I am sure you already know, all masks should comply with the CE quality certificate that confirms their approval and safety for wearing during this return to school in 2020.

How should masks be used in children?

As with adults, masks should cover the nose, mouth and chin. And depending on the type of mask they wear, whether surgical, hygienic, PPE or reusable, they should be changed after a certain number of hours, from 4 to 12. That is why our recommendation is that, in addition to the one they are wearing, they keep a couple more in their school bag, just in case.

Where to buy masks for children

It is now clear that little ones also need to wear masks, even at school, and that these must be age-appropriate and approved.

But now comes the second question: where do I buy them? To make sure the masks meet safety requirements and carry a CE certificate, the most advisable option is to buy them from physical or online pharmacies, such as Farmaciasdirect.com.

In our online shop, you will find a wide selection of children's masks, including surgical and reusable options from the Cherubina brand, all fully approved and available in different sizes to guarantee safety in the classroom.

And best of all, you can choose from fun prints, checks, flowers and bright colours to make wearing a mask at school a little more enjoyable. Would you like to know more about children's surgical masks? Click here.

Or, if you prefer, you can choose the Cherubina reusable mask you like best by clicking here.

More protection measures for the return to school in 2020

In addition to the mandatory use of masks for children at school, another of the protective measures for going back to school is keeping a safe distance and taking care of hygiene.

Yes, we know it is difficult for children to keep a distance of 1.5 metres from one another, especially if we are talking about preschool or nursery-aged children. That is why it is important that, both in the classroom and at home, we create awareness of the importance of following the rules set by the school.

As for using hand sanitiser, soap and water are the most effective option. However, there are times when we cannot wash our hands and, precisely to avoid crowding, the most advisable option is to put a hand sanitiser in your child's backpack.

That way, they will always have it close at hand. At this link, you can find a wide selection of hand sanitisers in different sizes and from different brands.

Or, if you prefer, you can also choose some single-dose hand sanitising wipes such as those from KidsClean. More information here. Ready for the return to school?