Talking to Your Children About COVID-19
What a weird, wild time to be alive. The COVID-19 pandemic is incredibly alarming to adults, and kids have many questions for us. This kind of uncertainty makes it hard to parent and to teach. My family’s spring break is next week, so the only children I have to worry about calming are my own. How do we do this as parents when we’re all kind of freaking out?
Here is what experts recommend. The Center for Disease Control, The Today Show and The Child Mind Institute had great information.
Appear Calm
When talking to your child about the virus, make sure you take a minute to breathe. Get focused and calm before approaching the topic. Being our children’s constant in a storm of weirdness is essential. Eye contact, a smile, and a hug will do wonders to calm you both.
Stick to a schedule or routine that makes sense to them and you. Assure them that they have the tools to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hand washing, covering coughs, adequate sleep, and eating fruits and veggies are all ways even little people can help our country.
Ask Them What They’ve Heard
Before I had a conversation with my daughter about COVID-19, I asked her what she had heard. This way I could confirm or dispel anything she was thinking and address concerns. It was helpful to know that her teacher had already explained the facts without causing alarm. I was able to confirm what her teacher had said, and also add onto it. Luckily, no one had enough time to start a rumor mill at her after-school care. This gave her father and me a starting point and it validated her input in this situation.
Keep It Age-Appropriate
Make sure your conversations with children are age-appropriate. My older two are asking great questions and researching answers on their own. We talk about what they’ve found, and we look into the answers together. I have had conversations with both of my boys to establish a new normal.
Their requests for get-togethers might have to be put on hold especially since their sports seasons and school days have been suspended until further notice. We have discussed how we will proceed without our normal fun. We’ve got plans for outdoor activities like hiking and fishing and discussed how we may have to do some learning on our computers while school is not in session. My boys are not happy about these changes, but they are beginning to understand how serious this is.
Provide Facts
When you do speak to young children about the Coronavirus, experts recommend sticking to the facts. When my husband was answering very pointed questions from my daughter, he did a great job explaining the particulars so she could understand them. He gave her a visual of what has happened so far in China. He explained how Coronavirus is spread and confirmed her hard work on handwashing and cough covering. Most importantly, he focused on our opportunity to hang out with family more at home, something my 8-year-old still enjoys. Experts want to emphasize avoiding blame. It helps no one and can serve to confuse kids.
The CDC recommends stating these facts:
- COVID-19 is the short name for “coronavirus disease 2019.” It is a new virus. Doctors and scientists are still learning about it.
- Recently, this virus has made a lot of people sick. Scientists and doctors think that most people will be ok, especially kids, but some people might get pretty sick.
- Doctors and health experts are working hard to help people stay healthy.
It’s hard to be a port in the storm when we adults don’t know how long this unrest will last. With our world being turned upside down, it is a little calming to know we can focus our energy on helping our kids understand. As we guide them through this, we can learn the facts as well.
Here are some additional resources for parents.
What about your family? How are you talking to your kids about this crisis in our country?