Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to explain it to your child
Speak calmly and reassuringly when addressing this issue with your children - below are a few more tips.
News of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is making headlines all across the globe, from the front page of all the papers to the playground at school.
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If you are a parent, you probably have wondered how to bring up the pandemic in a way that will be reassuring and informative to your children.
Experts at the Child Mind Institute recommend that parents shouldn’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," they explain on their website.
The website further explains that not talking about it can actually make children 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 that is likely more reassuring than whatever they’re hearing from their friends or on the news."
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Supporting and reassuring children around the world
Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp recently discovered a freely downloadable e-book that parents can use to help explain the issue to their kids. The e-book, #COVIBOOK, is specially designed to support and reassure our children under the age of 7 regarding the COVID-19.
The book's author, Manuela Molina, explains that this resource does not seek to be a source of scientific information, but rather a tool based on fantasy. "My recommendation is to print this material so children can draw on it. Remember that emotions are processed through repetitive play and stories read multiple times."
Download the book here.