HARTFORD, Conn — Connecticut's new daycare mask mandate went into effect Monday. All children, who are at least three years old, are now required to wear face masks in childcare settings.
Last week, Governor Lamont issued a mandate that children as young as three would be required to wear masks in a daycare setting. And, at the Kids First Learning Center, in Shelton, the kids did very well, according to the staff.
"We knew eventually because the kids are wearing them in school, that they would probably have the threes and fours wear them at the daycare centers," said Lisa Roberts, the owner of Kids First Learning Center.
She said they came in this morning eager to show off their fun masks
"It is difficult because if they need to use a tissue or they get hot, they do want to take them off," Roberts said, who also owns Kids Club in Shelton.
But, plenty of mask breaks, including during naps and outdoor playtime, seems to do the trick. And these tikes are in tune.
They all knew they were wearing their masks because of coronavirus. One three-year-old astutely said their masks help keep germs away.
The mandate came about after the American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed guidance on mask use for children.
"It’s a young group and we are trying to develop language and them not seeing our smiles or our mouths it’s a little bit challenging," said Roberts.
Considering most of the children are at Kids First Learning Center for nine hours a day, they did great.
Daycares have until October 19 to fully implement this mandate.
The exceptions to the mask requirement in camps and child care settings are as follows, according to the OEC:
- A child with a documented medical condition, special health care need, or developmental need (such as sensory integration) for whom wearing a mask or face covering would be contrary to their health or safety is not required to wear a mask.
- A child with a documented disability or special education need for whom wearing a mask or face covering would be contrary to their needs may be permitted exceptions. In addition, children and staff involved with certain special education and related services activities like speech and language therapy or where lip reading is required may remove a face-covering mask intermittently.
- Children are not required to wear a mask while eating, sleeping or resting. Distance between children must be maximized, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance wherever possible when masks are removed.
- Children who are newly enrolled within the past two months and are working toward mask wearing are permitted to remove their mask or face covering.
- Children who have just turned three years old may have up to two months to acclimate to wearing a mask or face covering and support developmental readiness.
- ‘Mask breaks’ may be planned and scheduled throughout the day. Mask breaks indoors must maximize physical distance between individuals, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance wherever possible.
- Masks may be removed for outdoor activities.
For more details about this requirement see OEC Memo #29.