Colman Noctor: Should our children wear masks to school?

Some health experts say primary school children should be required to wear a face mask. But what about the impact on their emotional development?

Primary school children will not be required to wear masks when they return to the classroom. Picture: iStock 

Primary school children will not be required to wear masks when they return to the classroom. Not everyone agrees with the Department of Education's guidance, sent out to schools last week. Concerned about the growing incidence of Covid-19, some health experts say young children should be required to wear a face mask. There are many parents who would agree.

I am a child psychotherapist, not an immunologist, and have no expertise on the pros or cons of mask wearing from a transmissibility perspective. However, where I have some degree of expertise is on the social and emotional development of children.  I have spent many years studying these trajectories and feel this perspective needs to be considered when deciding on the impact of measures such as face coverings for young children.