Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidance for parents
As public conversations around the Covid-19 coronavirus increase, children may worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting ill. Parents, family members, school staff, and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. CDC has created guidance to help adults have conversations with children about Covid-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.
Remain calm and reassuring.
Remember that children will react to both what you say and how you say it. They will pick up cues from the conversations you have with them and with others.
Make yourself available to listen and to talk.
Make time to talk. Be sure children know they can come to you when they have questions. Avoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma. Remember that viruses can make anyone sick.
Pay attention to what children see or hear.
Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on Covid-19. Too much news (especially the variety that sounds urgent or controversial) can lead to anxiety. Talk to children about how some stories on Covid-19 on the internet and social media may be based on rumors and inaccurate information.
Provide information that is honest and accurate.
Give children information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental level of the child.
Teach children everyday actions to reduce germs.
Remind children to stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing or sick. Remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, then throw the tissue into the trash. Discuss any new actions that may be taken to help protect children (e.g., wearing masks, increased hand-washing, cancellation of events or activities).
Get into a hand-washing habit.
Teach them to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
If soap and water are not available, teach them to use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol. Supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol.
World Health Organization shares tips on supporting kids’ emotions
Help children find positive ways to express feelings such as fear and sadness. Every child has his or her own way of expressing emotions. Sometimes engaging in a creative activity, such as playing or drawing can facilitate this process. Children feel relieved if they can express and communicate their feelings in a safe and supportive environment.
During times of stress and crisis, it is common for children to seek more attachment and be more demanding on parents. Discuss Covid-19 with your children in an honest and age-appropriate way. If your children have concerns, addressing them together may ease their anxiety. Children will observe adults’ behaviours and emotions for cues on how to manage their own emotions during difficult times.
Keep children close to their parents and family, if considered safe, and avoid separating children and their caregivers as much as possible. If a child needs to be separated from his or her primary caregiver, ensure that appropriate alternative care is provided and that during periods of separation, regular contact with parents and carergivers is maintained, such as twice-daily scheduled telephone or video calls or other age-appropriate communication (e.g. social media).
Maintain familiar routines in daily life as much as possible, or create new routines, especially if children must stay at home.
For more information visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/coronavirus or the World Health Organization at who.int.
