COVID – 19 is starting to spread, so it’s time to talk to your children about it. This might be a hard topic to explain because you want to give them the facts, but you don’t want to scare them about it either.
Early data conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that there is no evidence that children are more susceptible than adults. In fact, most cases have been found in adults and the elderly. They recommend that children wash their hands, avoid contact with sick people, and stay up to date on vaccinations.
These are just five tips that we found to be helpful. It is also essential to keep up to date on the latest news, so you can follow health official’s directions. Remember to get your information from trustworthy sources and don’t create unnecessary panic in your family because that will do more harm than good.
5. Be Honest
Being honest is the first step. Let your children know what’s going on and what health professionals are saying. It’s best to tell them what’s going on in your own words instead of letting them watch the news. You know what they can understand and what would upset them. Explain to them that the virus infects older people, and very few cases have been found in children.
4. Practice Good Hygiene
This is something that your children should be doing already, but there is always room for improvement. Tell them not to touch their mouth or eyes. Make them wash their hands more frequently and for a more extended amount of time than they might be used to. Have them wash their hands as soon as they get home. Wash their clothing that they were wearing outside as quickly as possible. Have them take off their shoes when they walk in the door, so they don’t track extra germs around the house. Bring hand sanitizer with you if you have to leave the house so you can kill bacteria as soon as they come in contact with surfaces that are touched frequently.
3. Let Kids Ask Questions
They might have a lot of questions about everything that is going on. Please do your best to gather information from reputable sources and professionals that know what they are talking about. You can also ask them questions to see what information they already know about the virus and correct them if they are wrong to help put their mind at ease.
2. Look for Positives
It might be hard to see it now, but there are actually some positive things happening in the world right now. Doctors and scientists are working together to cure this virus, so we won’t have to worry about it in the future. Looking for the heroes is also a positive thing to search for. This could be doctors and nurses helping sick people or Politian’s doing what they can to prevent the spread of this virus. Stepping back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and spending more time together as a family is also positive.
1.Comfort Your Children as Much as Possible
The best thing that you can do is let your children know that doctors and other health care officials are doing their best to help people that have been infected. They are also trying to eliminate the spreading of the virus, which is also comforting to know. It can be very overwhelming for children to learn about an event like this, so its best to reassure them that everything is going to be ok. Talk about things that they are worried about and explain to them that the virus most likely will not infect them if they listen to directions.