For some parents, the recommendation from Victoria’s Chief Health officer for children over 5 to wear a face mask, is no different to asking them to wear a helmet on a bike.

But others fear it will add to the anxiety that many kids are already experiencing as a result of the pandemic.

West Footscray mother Caitlin Le Vaillant doesn’t feel it would be best for her four kids.

She said she was “taken aback” by Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s recommendation on Saturday that primary school age children across the state wear the face coverings, both indoors and outdoors.

Caitlin Le Vaillant, husband Tobye and kids Bertie, 6, twins Beatrix and Ludo, 4, and Teddy 8. Credit:Penny Stephens

Ms Le Vaillant said she is not an anti-vaxxer, and wears a mask herself, away from home.

″⁣But I find this just a bridge too far,″⁣ she said. ″⁣The risks to children from COVID-19 are very low, and we need to keep this in perspective when considering measures that affect their lives.″⁣

It was enough that her kids, age Teddy, 8, Bertie, 6, and twins, Beatrix and Ludo, 4, already carried psychological burdens, spending more time on screens, and missing grandparents, scouts and birthdays.

She would hate to see kids stigmatised as the carriers of disease, which masks would signal.

Ms Le Vaillant said we should be “returning our children to as much normalcy as possible” and any risk reduction strategy, like the mask suggestion, should take into account its effect on children.

But parents’ opinions about the recommendation, which is not mandatory, have varied widely.

Caitlin Williams, 38, of Carlton North, is in favour of her son Griffin, 5, wearing a mask, whether it’s to the park, kinder or childcare.

″⁣I just think it’s an extra tool that we have that can help protect our kids,″⁣ Ms Williams said.

″⁣I’m worried that there’s no vaccine for children at the moment, and with the Delta variant being considered to be more dangerous for children.″⁣

She doesn’t understand why there’s resistance to mask wearing, and said “it’s a public health measure”.

″⁣For me putting a mask on my child in a pandemic is like putting a helmet on him when he’s riding a bike.″⁣

Griffin Williams, 5, sports a mask and the latest dinosaur gear.Credit:Caitlin Williams

About one-quarter of Victoria’s 440 active cases are among children under the age of 9, Health Minister Martin Foley said on Sunday. One child aged under five is among the 27 people in hospital.

Mandy Herbet, 41, of Bentleigh East, said she was “perfectly happy” for her son Archie, 6, to wear a mask but for now it should be “recommended” and not mandatory, to get kids used to it.

She doesn’t push Archie to wear the mask while riding a bike or kicking a ball. But she will encourage it at shops, or at schools and other places with people around.

The World Health Organisation and UNICEF said that children age 5 and under should not wear masks. Regarding children age 6 to 11, parents should consult local authorities.

Factors to consider included whether there was widespread transmission in the area, the ability of the child to safely use a mask, and level of adult supervision.

Parents also had mixed reactions to the state government’s decision to close childcare for everyone but essential workers.

Ms Le Vaillant said the move would be “devastating” for many families, adding to the stresses of home learning after a long period where everyone is feeling exhausted.

Ms Williams, a single mother who can work from home, said the decision would put strain on many people, but is relieved because she was concerned about childcare helping spread disease.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but I think it’s necessary,” she said.

Victorian students of all ages took part on Sunday in the @shadowpandemicvic campaign— standing with their school bags in front of their homes for 15 minutes, in a peaceful statement about the impact of school closures and other restrictions on children.

One of the organisers, Jacquie Blackwell, said parents and children were calling for the government to offer a road map to get kids back into schools.

Ms Blackwell said her four kids, aged between 12, 15, 16 and 18, were taking part in Sunday’s event.

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