Face Mask Or Security Blanket? How To Help Kids When they are Fearful Of Germs
How can you help your child feel comfortable when they are fearful of germs?
In many places, kids are no longer required to wear face-covering in the classroom. This is yet another change in our kid's ever-changing world! Many children don't even have a memory of a time they were at school without a mask. Now they are expected to feel comfortable without a mask over a weekend. Many kids will have reservations about taking off the mask. Others may begin to feel real fearful of germs that will affect their behavior. It's ok for them to make this transition slowly. Children are resilient but they are not rubber bands. They will not snap back so easily. Some kids will struggle with going from having a face mask on all the time, to no face-covering at all. Kids will need us to be understanding of how they are feeling. So let's discuss how to stand in the gap and help them have a healthy social-emotional outlook on the spread of germs, on wearing a face mask, AND not wearing a face mask.
How Can You Help Lessen The Fear Of Getting Sick
By providing support and encouragement, we can help kids feel more confident and comfortable with or without a face covering as we move forward. Counselors suggest using a patient and forward-moving approach to change. Here are some steps you can take to help your child lessen the fear of getting sick.
Talk to your child about germs in a positive way
Talk to your child about germs in a positive way. Explain that while germs can make us sick, they are also present in everyday life and are not always harmful.
Help your child develop a healthy balance between germs and sickness. Teach them the importance of hygiene, but also remind them that over-sanitizing can be harmful to their health.
Encourage your child to participate in activities they enjoy outside of the home. This will help them feel more confident and comfortable in social situations.
Face Mask or Security Blanket?
Is your child wearing a face mask every place they go? You may say well of course they are! We have been in a global pandemic for the past two years for goodness sake! We let me rephrase the question: Do you notice your child treating their face mask like a security blanket and/or showing signs of anxiety or reluctance when they are able to take it off in safe situations?
If you answer yes, they may be experiencing an over-dependence on face-covering due to an extreme fear of germs. If this is the case you may notice that your child:
Refuses to take it off even at home at times in fear of getting sick?
Seem anxious or nervous whenever they are not in the comfort of their own home?
Experience anxiety or refusal to go to places they enjoy such as school.
While it is natural for kids to be fearful of germs after the last two years, it is important to help them feel more confident and comfortable in their environment.
Here are a few solution-focused tips that may help:
Listen to your child about the things they are afraid of and help them come up with ways that may help them feel more confident.
Help them practice socializing in safe environments without a face covering, like with family or friends.
Give them positive reinforcement whenever they do something that makes them feel more comfortable around others and they are able to pull the mask down without fear.
If you suspect that your child is experiencing social anxiety or reluctance to participate in activities due to their fear of germs, don't hesitate to seek professional help. A therapist can assist your child in developing a more positive outlook about germs and helping them feel more comfortable in social situations.
Fear of germs can be a debilitating and isolating experience for children. With some patience and positive reinforcement, however, you can help your child feel more comfortable and confident in their environment.
Do you think your child is worried about what people will think about how they look with a mask off? Check out my blog that talks about that by clicking here.
Thank you for reading! If you would like to learn more solution-focused tips you can access Free Changes from Fear to Fearless toolkit by clicking here and by listening to the podcast Parenting With The Focused Mindset.. And if this article was helpful to you feel free to share it with friends and family!
