Masks can work to slow the spread by stopping infected patients from spreading droplets (via respiration and sneezing) to others.

That is the definition of the mask working. It slows the spread, and the spread does not reach as far, less people are infected, and the hospitals get less overloaded with infected bodies.

Masking kids didn't seem to do anything at all as they were never at real risk.

In areas where mask culture is accepted, it seemed to help. The virus can be transmitted by normal breathing and respiration, you don't need coughing and sneezing. Kids have a natural defense that adults don't have,, but what it is escapes me right now and I'm not looking it up. K 94s are very light and easy to wear.

Not every particle is stopped by the mask, but the particle is in a water droplet, if the droplet is heavy it falls to the floor, lighter droplets can float in the air for hours. K 94 means that in the test, 94% of the water droplets were stopped by the mask, but that means 6% got through. This is average. Most everyone had problems fitting around the nose - gaps.

The idea that masks don't work is ideological, not reality. Look at it yourself, of course it f'in works better than no mask at slowing and stopping the spread.