DIY Reusable Face Masks That Kids Will Love

For adults, staying indoors for months may have been easy to cope with. However, for kids, this is akin to imprisonment with nowhere to run or go play. Indoor games, the television, online classes may have kept them occupied for a certain period but, for kids, nothing compares to being outside. In this scenario, face masks are essential and have become a necessity.

But how effective are the store-bought masks for your little one? If you are one of those parents who do not trust the quality of these masks, then making one yourself may be the best way forward. That too from the comfort of your home. A win-win situation for both the parent and the kids.

Face masks have become 'essential'

Today, face masks have become an integral part of our daily lives. It has become an essential tool in the battle against the novel coronavirus. However, what do you do if a) you do no trust the quality of store masks b) there is a shortage of masks in the market.

Simple. One effective and useful way is to make DIY masks that can be reused at the same time.

To begin, while making masks for children, parents turn to the digital space to look for ideas. But what about those homes that do not have a sewing machine? Imagine a disgruntled child keeping a loose cloth on his or her face just to pacify their parents. No way!

To help you in this 'healthy' endeavour, we bring you fun-to-create DIY face masks that the tiny tots and little devils will love wearing. The best part - these face masks are made from everyday items that you or most homes would have.

How effective are homemade masks?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a national public health institute in the United States, had recently updated their guidelines with regards to the use of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A key point was the use of face masks or a cloth covering when going outdoors or when it is difficult to maintain social distancing such as while grocery shopping and shopping for other essentials.

According to an article, How effective are homemade masks at stopping spread of coronavirus, published in thehour by Justin Papp, Johnson McGee the dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of New Haven, "The best homemade mask is one that can fit tightly over your nose and mouth, has densely woven fibers in multiple layers, and that still allows you to breathe easily."

In the same article, Johnson McGee pointed to a commercial study that showed that bed sheets, denim, canvas and shop towels are among the most effective cloth materials for making masks.

Note: It is advisable to wash face masks after each use.

See the video below by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the ideal way to take off your mask

DIY reusable face masks for kids

1. A no-sew mask

What you need

• Cotton t-shirt (preferably a clean one)
• Pipe cleaners
• Elastic hair ties

How to make

1. Measure approximately seven inches along the bottom hem - the length of the mask - and then four inches high and cut that out of the front and back of the t-shirt.
2. Flip the front piece vertically. Make two tiny holes in the center underside of the hemming. Make two identical holes in the back layer of the t-shirt.
3. Make two more holes, one in each upper corner of the back layer.
4. Thread one pipe cleaner through the corner hole and then into the hem. When you get to the tiny holes, push the pipe cleaner out and weave it through the holes in the back layer and then again onto the other side.
5. Repeat this process with two corner holes and the tiny hole in the center.
6. Now, fix the hair bands to the ends of both the bottom and top by twisting the pipe cleaners around them, one on each side.
7. Fix the mask to your child's face by pressing the top pipe cleaner gently over the nose.

2. Animal print face mask

What you need

• A tablecloth or a general piece of cloth (preferably one that has been washed and dried) that has animal print on it
• Scissors
• Elastic string
• Transparent tape
• Craft stick (optional)
• Hole punch

How to make

1. Decide beforehand with your child the type of animal he loves
2. Draw the outline on a piece of paper
3. Keep the cloth on top of the outline and cut as per the shape of the animal
4. Punch two holes on either side of the animal face mask with the hole punch
5. Insert the elastic strings for it to fit over the ears on either side

3. No-sew bandana mask

What you need

• A square bandana
• Coffee filter

How to make

1. Take the square bandana and fold it over a small piece of coffee filter (a tissue that is found in a coffee filter machine)
2. Put a hair tie or rubber band on each end
3. Fold the ends around each tie or band to secure them
4. The bands will secure the masks behind your child's ears

4. Grocery bag face mask

What you need

• 1 medium non-woven reusable grocery bag
• 2 pipe cleaners
• 60 inches ribbon (optional)

How to make

1. Wash the reusable grocery bag
2. Cut off the sides of the bag so the material lays flat
3. Cut the material into two sheets
4. Measure and cut one sheet
5. Repeat the fourth step on the other side of the material
6. Sew the mask's side seams
7. Place the sheets together
8. Make the head ties
9. Make straps out of ribbon
10. Sew the sheets together
11. Finish the bottom edge
12. Make the adjustable noseband
13. Make three folds to pleat the mask for expansion
14. Sterilize your mask by applying a small amount of disinfectant on the mask

While the above masks are easy to make, inexpensive, and fun for kids, they are at best, a preventive measure. The best advice in the current scenario would be - stay indoors as much as possible.

Also read: How to prepare for life after lockdown

About the author:

Written by Ashwin Dewan on 8 July 2020.

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