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There’s absolutely no way of avoiding it. If you haven’t already done so (because you’ve been trying to protect your child(ren) from unnecessary anxiety), now is the time to sit down and talk to them about coronavirus. It’s also worth bearing in mind that children tend to worry more when they’re kept in the dark.
Our advice at myTamarin is to address it head-on without overwhelming them with information they might not be ready to or, need to process.
Following these simple guidelines should help you along the way.
Take your cue from your child(ren)
First, try to find out what they already know about the virus to avoid overwhelming them with every single detail. For example, for older children, ask if people at school were talking about it and if so, what they were saying. For younger children you might want to ask if they’ve heard grown-ups talking about the new illness. In other words, try to figure out what they already know, correct any inaccuracies and answer any specific questions they have.
Don’t transfer your anxiety or worry on to them
Children pick up on anxiety really easily so pick a time to talk to them when you are feeling calm and in control yourself.
Reassure them and educate them
For example, explain that it’s a rare illness compared to something they already know about such as a bad cold or the flu. Also take the time to explain that the risk to children is minor. Children will generally feel reassured if they know doctors are out there treating people. And for older children the fact that scientists are working on a vaccine may do the trick.
Give them an opportunity to raise their fears
Depending upon what they’ve already heard, they may be wondering if they are next – reassure them that the impact on children is not very severe.
If they are not worrying about themselves, they are probably worried about you. Again, reassure them by explaining that people who are getting seriously ill from coronavirus are generally suffering from some other underlying health problem. And if they have heard about the impact on the elderly (their grandparents), explain that they are staying at home without visitors to keep safe and arrange for them to call and speak to them regularly.
Explain the steps you are taking to keep the family safe
Your child(ren) will feel more secure if you explain the steps you are taking to keep them safe. They will also feel empowered if they think they can help with this. Reinforce the washing hands and make it fun by singing happy birthday twice over. Happy birthday may feel a bit young for some but it’s a song we all know and love!
Keep the lines of communication open
It’s okay to say that you don’t know all the answers. Just let them know you’ll keep them updated as and when you can
Know when they need guidance
Your child(ren) will be picking up new information (true or hype) from all over the place. Try and point them to age appropriate content so they don’t come across news that scares them.
Now you have spoken to your child(ren) about the situation, next up is keeping them entertained. This may seem daunting, but we are here to help you and your family get through it. Check out our Ultimate guide to keeping the kids entertained during lockdown.
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