Parents of preschoolers complain about face mask requirement for kids

Children can use face masks or face shields in class.

PETALING JAYA: Parents of preschoolers are complaining about the latest SOP requiring their children to don face masks during classes, with some saying it makes breathing difficult, especially for those with respiratory problems.

They also said their children found it uncomfortable to wear masks.

Khalil Dunnia, 37, said his son could not focus and that he was worried the requirement to wear face masks would affect his son emotionally.

“I picked him up from school yesterday afternoon and he looked sluggish and weak.

“He suffers from a bad case of sinus and his nose is extremely sensitive. He finds it difficult to breathe with a face mask,” the civil servant told FMT.

Khalil noted that some children were also wearing face shields, apart from the masks, which he found to be rather extreme.

“I feel observing social distancing and prioritising cleanliness is sufficient.”

Hayati Farhan, 34, whose two children are in preschool, is of the opinion that a face shield is much better than a face mask.

“It is more comfortable for the children and makes it easier for them to communicate through the lessons.”

Meanwhile, a public preschool teacher from Shah Alam said a face shield offered better protection compared with a face mask and could be reused after it was sanitised.

The teacher also said that parents still had reservations about sending their children to pre-school at this stage.

“But I hope to see more children after we explain how we adhere to the SOPs and how we sanitise the school.”

Preschools and kindergartens, which were closed during the movement control order, were allowed to re-open yesterday. - FMT