Face Masks: Tips to Prepare Children
We’re wearing face masks almost everywhere these days, (thanks Covid) so of course companies making custom masks are springing up as well! We’ve recently tried out Mask Market and are ready to share our thoughts for your discernment.
Mask Market is a company that allows you to design your own PPE mask or they have per-designed face masks as well. We’ll talk more about them below, first I want to get to the important things.
What is a PPE mask?
PPE = Personal Protective Equipment
What do they Protect Us From?
PPE masks, when properly fitted, protect us from many air and water particulates that float through the air. Normally, those particulates aren’t a problem but right now they can, as we’ve all learned, be deadly. Neither age nor health is a true shield with this particular virus, therefore it is much better to be safe, as the old saying goes, than sorry.
Preparing Children To Wear Face Masks
In many places, school is going to open up with regular or modified classes. Some states are already requiring masks for nearly everyone. At the end of the day, we all want this to be over and doing our part will, prayerfully, get us that much closer.
- Our children are adaptable, far more than we are, but they do need us to lead by example. It will both help and encourage them to get in the habit of wearing them if they don’t hear us complaining. Instead, we can lead them in the right direction by wearing our masks and making sure they hear us talk about the importance of doing so. Seeing us properly wear our masks will help them learn to do it as well. Simple, but effective!
- Teach them why they are wearing the masks. Children are both happy to help and to teach others when they learn something new. There is nothing as entertaining as having a 4 year old explain things. They love to learn, so let’s teach them!
- If possible, find masks that go with your child’s tastes and personality. This will encourage them, even excite them, to wear their favorite new mask. I love the idea of making masks that look similar to their favorite super hero masks! You can also get them with their favorite characters, or make them using cloth with those characters on them. Allowing them to choose their favorites will also lessen their resistance to wearing them.
- Practice wearing masks during play at home. For smaller children, it may also be helpful if they have one to put on their favorite doll or stuffed animal. They can teach their dolls how to wear a mask, not to touch their face and so forth which will help them to remember the same.
- Start by wearing the mask for a set amount of time, then take it off a while and repeat. Eventually, they will get so use to it that they forget they are wearing it and don’t mind at all.
- Remember, the face mask mandates and recommendations are not exclusively referring to traditional masks. They simply need to have their nose and mouth covered so that air particulates can’t be inhaled so easily. Face masks that many wear when hunting would be fine, as they cover the nose and mouth, then go down to the neck so that air can’t come in so easily. I’m sure there are patterns out there so that they could be made with more breathable material in the summer heat. Scarves would be adequate as well.
- Make sure that the mask fits properly and is a comfortable fit. Otherwise, it isn’t going to stay on at all.
- Make a game of it. Have a child with a wild imagination? Perhaps mask wearing is a game so spies can’t see their mouth to identify them or maybe the masks are a disguise, or perhaps they provide super powers! They will run with it, you just have to start the game!
Mask Market is a US company located in Michigan, where 
their masks are also made. One thing I do love is that they donate 1 mask for every mask they sell. If you’ve seen my love for Mission Belt, you know companies that give back is a love of mine! I also love companies here in the good ole USA!
~ Website ~
Mask Market face masks are adjustable so that you can make sure that it fits properly. The material is notably thin, but they come with a filter to put in the middle intended to filter the air.
Custom Designed Mask Made with our Baby’s CardioGram, modeled by her God-Mother –>
5 Layer Filters:
Each mask comes with 1 filter and you can buy extras in quantities of three. The filters are sandwiched on both sides by an anti-stick cloth with 1 layer each of a filter cloth, activated carbon and a high efficiency filter cloth.
Breathability
I will be honest and say I wasn’t certain that was a word initially. Turns out, it is. Yay me! haha. Anyway, I had made a lot of masks with 4 layers of 100% cotton for my friend who is a nurse at a local nursing home. They are thick and hot, but that is what the facility required.
The Mask Market masks are much easier to breathe in and a lot less hot. I think they would be much more comfortable for children or adults who may have breathing issues. I wore mine during a workout and could breathe just fine. (Note: I did not do cardio but I am vastly out of shape)
<-In this image, I have the mask on backwards so that you can see the filter coverage
Custom Face Masks
Initially, I made an image that was large so that it could be scaled down when I made the custom mask. The first order came and the images were off. I contacted the company and received no response. I contacted the media relations department, and was able to get the masks properly made. The second printing was not as bright but the image was centered properly and I was much happier with it.
The “I Paused my game” mask is definitely meant for my 12 year old. If he’s not on virtual classes, he’s on electronics.
What great masks. In a world where this will be the fashion statement of the year, I love that you can customize them. I am going to design something fun for the whole family 🙂
I love that you can make custom masks. Perfect for Christmas gifts.
Never in a million years would I thought kids would need to wear a mask to school. However, I think for the most part the children are doing pretty well with them. I see them on the playground and they run around just as before except with a mask on.
Being that Kids have to wear these so much when they are out…it’s a good idea that they have mask designed to show what the kids like…such as games.The medical community is so deserving of their own mask that shows our appreciation for their service.
Terrific article
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According to the company, for each mask sold, one mask is donated. Most masks ship in 24 hours !!!
I really liked the Constellation Print face mask.
I learned the more you buy, the more of a discount you receive.
I like the custom face mask designer gives everyone the ability to create their very own custom face mask when they use our unique online design tool.
You can create your own masks quickly.
custom made
I like their idea to put your own bottom of your face on a mask! Thanks and God bless!
That made me giggle! May God Bless You as well.
I like that you can order custom masks. I do like their Leaf Art Pattern.
I totally agree kids are adaptable. My two have done well with practicing wearing masks as they will need them next week when school starts. I am returning to teaching after being a stay at home mom for 8 years and will need to mask up too. So will my teacher husband. I like that it has a two way stretch on the face coverings and that the shipping times are super reasonable to get prepared! I like the purple monster mask
Praying for you both! This is a rough time to be anyone, especially teachers!
I love that they donate one mask for everyone sold
i love that you can put your own face on a mask!
I love that one mask sold is one mask donated. They also have many different designs to choose from and fast shipping!
I like that you were able to breathe easily in it, and the designs are so pretty. I really like the milky way galaxy print.
My youngest would love the Doughnut Print Face Mask. He has to wear a mask to school when it returns.
I missed that one! Going to have to go back and check it out! I think schools everywhere are requiring masks, and I agree whole heartedly with that decision. If they absolutely must do in classroom settings, then that seems to be the best option. Praying for your son.
I like that you can create your own custom mask.
Me too! I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with something witty but not too sassy. I can do witty, not too sassy is the part that is challenging! haha
I like the variety of masks that they have from selfie masks to gaiters!
Yes! They are super fun! Gonna have to go back and check out the gator mask! I missed it!
I learned that the masks ship fast – 1 to 3 days. Thank you
I learned you could put your own face on a mask, but I wouldn’t chose that since I like masks to hide my double chin! LOL
LOL. Same here. Then I thought, we could photo shop out our double chin and then, while wearing the mask anyway, we’d have no double chin! haha. Instant makeover with no surgery or work!
That graphic masks ship within 24hrs
They have really cute designs. I like the Nurse one because I think my patients would get a laugh from it.
Laughter is certainly the best medicine when we aren’t feeling well!
I loved the Rainbow Flower Adult Mask. I learned that for every mask that is sold they also donate one. Very cool.
I like that you can search for different things. I like the Pride Rainbow Face Mask
Thanks for the contest.
There are so many different designs! I love that they are machine washable and have two way stretch! 🙂
Yes! They are really breathable as well!
I also really like the gaiter face covers. I think they would work well in the winter.
I like the fast shipping on the masks! YAY!!!
My daughter would love this one: Paused My Game to Be Here Adult Face Mask
haha! Mine too! When I saw that one, I remembered my days with the original Nintendo. That would have been the mask for me then! haha
They have a large selection! I like the Chibi Cats Adult Face Mask. I also like the Tiger Face Face Mask.
I love one mask sold and one mask donated what a great company if everyone would do something like that it would be wonderful
I love that too! I’m all for companies that give back!
Love the Pink Grunge Sky Adult Face Mask. Such a bright cheerful color! Brings a little bit of cheer to a bad situation
I learned that Mask Matters has several different types of masks like masks with filers, customized masks, and face covering gaiters. I really like the Blue Streaks Adult Face Mask.
I missed that one! Will have to go back and look!
Face Covers and Graphic Masks Ships within 24 hours
Love that they ship so fast!
I learned that these masks are made in the United States. That animal masks are available and the masks ship fast!
Yes they are! I love that they are made here! So many great designs!
I love the idea of custom masks! Makes people more invested in wearing a piece of their work and more compliant with public health guidelines.
Me too! Plus it’s a new accessory for every outfit. haha. Maybe that will be enough for people to stop complaining so much.
“A new accessory for every outfit” Haha I love it! Mix and match as you please
Every girl needs accessories, right? haha
I learned free ship on large orders, custom designs..ship in 1-3 days. Donate one with purchase of one.
The custom face masks ship in as little as 1-3 days. Wow.
That’s crazy fast!
I like that you can make your own designs. Although I’m not good at that it’s nice to know they have graphics made you can choose from.
You could always have a photo printed on them! Or a drawing!
I liked that you could put your own face on a mask.
I missed those! Heading over to look again!
My favorite is the Standard Deluxe Adult Mask. I learned that with every one mask sold, they donate one PPE face mask to an organization that is in critical need of personal protective equipment. I also leanred that the masks are made in the USA
Whoa! I learned you can have a photo of your face on the mask. Super freaky! I wouldn’t like that for me, but it might be nice for my daughter to wear to school, a tad toward more normalizing of mask at school.
I learned that you can order a face mask with your on mouth printed on it, the more you purchase-the bigger the discount and shipping is fast.
I really like the Blue & Purple Galaxy Adult Face Mask.
Learned it ships within 1-3 days.
I went to the sponsor’s site and I learned that they have great coupon codes on the site. I love that these masks are make in the USA that is super important to me. I also love all of the masks that they have to chose from and some of them are funny.
I like that you can design your own. They have a lot of cute designs. I especially like their Chibi Cats design.
I like they have a mask donation program
Wow….they have a lot of different designs! I like the ones that are colorful and cheerful.
I think the rainbow flower adult face mask is really cute.