Talking to children about Coronavirus

Our friends and partners at NACCW have shared some valuable resources on talking to children about Coronavirus. The following advice was adapted by NACCW from an article by Rachel Ehmke on Child Mind. They have also shared with us a useful graphic Coronavirus explanation for children, produced by Mindheart. We are providing this pack to all child and youth care workers on our programmes.

DOWNLOAD THE CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION FOR CHILDREN PACK >

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Kids worry more when they’re kept in the dark

News of the coronavirus COVID-19 is everywhere, from the front page of all the papers to the play-ground at school. Many parents are wondering how to bring up the epidemic in a way that will be reassuring and not make kids more worried than they already may be.

Don’t be afraid to discuss the coronavirus.
Most children will have already heard about the virus or seen people wearing face masks, so parents shouldn’t avoid talking about it. Not talking about something can actually make kids worry more. Look at the conversation as an opportunity to convey the facts and set the emotional tone. Your goal is to help your children feel informed and get fact-based information to reassure them.

Be developmentally appropriate.
Don’t volunteer too much information, as this may be overwhelming. Instead, try to answer your child’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly. It’s okay if you can’t answer everything; being available to your child is what matters.

Take your cues from your child.
Invite your child to tell you anything they may have heard about the coronavirus, and how they feel. Give them ample opportunity to ask questions. You want to be prepared to answer (but not prompt) questions. Your goal is to avoid encouraging frightening fantasies.

Deal with your own anxiety.
If you notice that you are feeling anxious, take some time to calm down before trying to have a conversation or answer your child’s questions.

Be reassuring.
Children are very egocentric, so hearing about the coronavirus on the news may be enough to make them seriously worry that they’ll catch it. It’s helpful to reassure your child about how rare the coronavirus actually is (the flu is much more common) and that kids actually seem to be less susceptible to it.

Focus on what you’re doing to stay safe and what is in your control.
An important way to reassure kids is to emphasize the safety precautions that you are taking. We know that the coronavirus is transmitted mostly by coughing and touching surfaces. WHO recommends thoroughly washing your hands as the primary means of staying healthy. So remind kids that they are taking care of themselves by washing their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds (or the length of two “Happy Birthday” songs) when they come in from outside, before they eat, and after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the bathroom. If kids ask about face masks, explain that the experts at WHO say they aren’t necessary for most people. If kids see people wearing face masks, explain that those people are being extra cautious.

Stick to routine.
This is particularly important if your child’s school or daycare shuts down. Make sure you are taking care of the basics just like you would during a school break. Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping kids happy and healthy.

Keep talking.
Tell kids that you will continue to keep them updated as you learn more.

End on a positive point.
Once the conversation is over, move on to something that isn’t threatening, such as what they had for lunch or something fun they did during the day.