BRIGHTON, N.Y. — As part of Gov. Hochul's new universal masking requirements, children in day care centers who are 2 years old and older will now have to wear a mask.

What You Need To Know

  • Brighton day care center welcomes the governor's new universal masking plan requiring children 2 and up to wear a mask, despite challenges keeping masks on toddlers
  • The state says the new masking policy brings state-regulated day care facilities into compliance with CDC recommendations
  • Lil' Darlins Childcare had already encouraged toddlers to wear face coverings

At Lil’ Darlins Childcare in Brighton, there are about a dozen little darlings, and the 2-year-olds there are proving they have minds of their own. It can make the effort to keep masks on the little ones tricky.

“It's just the ones that are 2, just turned 2, it’s a scary thing to have something over your nose and mouth and it feels like you can't breathe," said Lil’ Darlins Childcare Owner Essie Spann-Cox.

She says it can take a bit for the toddlers to grasp the mask.

“But I mean with a little coaching and guidance from the parents, the provider, the adult, I think they’ll do alright," said Spann-Cox.

The day care provider has no issues with Gov. Hochul’s announcement to include state-regulated child care facilities for children ages 2 and up in her universal mask requirements because the little visitors at Lil’ Darlins are already encouraged to wear face coverings.

“The mask thing is fine with me, the kids so far go with it,” said Spann-Cox. “I know there are parents that are against it, but I think it's for the kids' protection, the adult protection that's around them have to wear, I think is just a first step, a precaution for everyone, so I'm in with the mask.”

The state says the new masking policy brings state-regulated day care facilities into compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. That includes anybody, ages 2 and over, to wear a mask.

At Lil' Darlins, they’ve been encouraging mask wearing all along, and the owner says she hasn't gotten pushback from parents who tell her, "Good luck.”

Spann-Cox says they play games and sing songs to encourage the masking but says it can be a challenge — a challenge she is willing to take on.

“It's scary, but like I said, try to mask first before you try to knock it,” said Spann-Cox. “If you really don't want to wear it, that's your prerogative, but think about protecting your child against the provider or the adult around.”