Licking their mask
Why they do it
“Wearing a mask is a new experience, and we know kids learn and explore things through their senses, like through touching, tasting and feeling,” . They may also have started to bite or chew on it at the beginning of the school year, for comfort, and it’s now a habit. Prior to the pandemic, these same kids might have already been chewing on sleeves or shirt collars in a similar bid to understand and explore the object and how it feels on their body.
How to handle it
First, have some empathy. A mask is an unnatural thing for kids to have on their face. “It’s very natural for a child to not accept it,”. If your kid needs to wear their mask at school and is struggling, suggests having them wear it at home in front of the TV, where you can remind them to stop if they start licking it and give them something else to focus on, like a fidget toy.
She also suggests finding out when your kid’s mask breaks are at school and talking to them about how, if their mask is bothering them, they can look forward to the time when they can take it off. Be sure to keep your kid stocked with a fresh supply of clean masks, says Ponti, because dirty and wet ones are uncomfortable and will be more tempting to lick or chew at.
What if I just ignore it?
The need for kids to wear masks won’t last forever, but waiting it out isn’t a great plan. Soiling a mask by licking or chewing on it can increase the risk of spreading germs, which defeats the purpose of wearing it.
With breaking habits, consistency is key to getting results. Irwin says even the words you use can make a difference. “I don’t think you can underestimate the consistency of the language,” she says. If your kid is picking their nose or biting their nails, a phrase like “It looks like your hands want to be busy” can cue them that it’s time to switch to a new activity that you’ve shown them, like twiddling their thumbs or rubbing their fingernails on the palm of their hand.
It may take a while for your kid to fully stop these behaviours, but it can be helpful to remember that these habits are providing your kid comfort in a developmentally appropriate way—so be patient as they learn new strategies. It’s up to us to teach them new tricks and help them out along the way.
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