With social distancing orders [1] in full effect throughout most of the United States, families are going the extra mile to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. Following the CDC's national guidelines, that means reaching for a face mask whenever you leave home [2]. Although experts don't recommend that babies and toddlers wear masks [3], older kids are encouraged to wear them when they're outside.

If masks are hard to come by in your area, parents can easily DIY [4] a cloth version for kids, no sewing machine required. Follow the tutorial above — which requires fabric glue, cloth, paper clips, and elastics or cotton strips — to make masks for your little ones. And if you're not particularly crafty, you can also order your children washable cloth masks from Etsy [5].