Hi everyone,
I am a mom of a 2-year-old toddler and I am finding it extremely difficult to make her wear a mask during this pandemic. It is important for us to go out for grocery shopping and other essentials, but my daughter completely resists wearing a mask. She pulls it off every time I put it on her and throws a tantrum. I am really worried about her safety and the safety of others around us.
I have tried explaining to her that we need to wear a mask to stay safe and healthy, but she doesn't seem to understand. I have also tried making it a game and using positive reinforcement, but it doesn't seem to work. I don't want to force her, as I don't want her to develop negative associations with wearing a mask.
I would really appreciate it if some other parents or experts could share their experiences or tips on how to handle this situation. I am sure there are many other parents out there who are facing the same issue. Thank you in advance for your help.

Hello,
I am a mother of a 4-year-old who has been wearing a mask consistently for the past few months. One thing that worked for us was allowing our child to pick out their own mask.
We purchased a few different designs and let our child choose which one they wanted to wear that day. Our child felt like they had some control over the situation, and it made the experience more enjoyable for them.
Additionally, we talked to our child about the importance of staying safe and healthy during the pandemic. We explained that wearing a mask was one way to help stop the spread of germs, and that it was important for us to protect ourselves and others around us.
We also made it a point to wear masks as a family, so our child could see that we were all doing it together. This helped to normalise mask-wearing in our household.
Lastly, we found it helpful to gradually increase the amount of time our child wore the mask. We started with shorter periods of time and worked our way up to longer periods.
Patience and understanding with your child's resistance are key. Keep trying different methods until you find one that works for your child. Good luck!