Conversing With Your Children About the Coronavirus

Malik Hassan

April 16, 2020

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The global scare this pandemic has caused is too real to be silenced. Everywhere you go, every channel you tune into, every social-media site you visit; all you see and hear is coronavirus. Children being the major hubs of curiosity will naturally ask questions about this new word they are hearing and will register the fear that seems to linger on everyone’s face. They will question the changes in behavior, the reduced numbers of visits, lockdowns and constant pressure of washing and sterilizing. As a parent, it becomes a concern for you to satisfy their curiosity without causing unnecessary panic yet still registering in them a sense of responsibility. Following are some tips for parents and adults that can help them talk to their children about coronavirus and its implications:

·         Provide the right amount of information: Adults will have to maintain a balance between providing all the important information without fueling unnecessary fretfulness. Kids have a very hyper-active imagination and they tend to make up fearful scenarios on their own if they see adults being extra silent and on the other hand, too much information can cause them to panic without any immediate threat. Tell them just enough to help them understand what the world is going through and what they can do to prevent any unfortunate incident.

·         Teach them prevention: Teach your children about all the practices they need to adopt during this pandemic for example: washing their hands regularly, standing six-feet apart from strangers, sneezing or coughing into their elbows, observing social-distancing etc. They might be curious about why it’s not necessary to wear a mask unless sick even though they might be seeing many people around them doing it.

·         Paint a picture of calmness: Children will quickly register and mimic emotions they observe in adults so stay calm about the whole situation and teach them that when proper precautions and rules are followed, there is no need to harbor fear and anxiety. Tell them that even though they hear about deaths and severe symptoms, they are rare and can be avoided with a responsible behavior.

·          Limit exposure to news: While watching the news can provide you with a huge insight into the global situation, it is wise to limit the exposure to children. Many outlets are in search for extreme and ‘enticing’ news to captivate the audience and it may cause unnatural fear to settle in the kids’ minds.

·         Be a beacon of hope: Talk about positive developments happening around the world and in your country and be hopeful for better times. Keep children occupied with various activities during quarantine and keep reassuring them that when you follow the rules, take precautions and have the right practices; you are safe.

Keep sharing stories about the brave people fighting frontline with this pandemic and keep praying together for better, safer and healthier times.