New coronavirus fear: Talking to your child clearly about Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and its prevention can help relieve their fears about the deadly virus.
- New coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has become a nightmare for many kids
- Talking to kids about coronavirus and safety precautions can help them stay away from this viral boogeyman
- Following good hygiene habits such as washing hands regularly, sneezing into the crook of the elbow, limiting contact with sick people could be the cornerstone of coronavirus prevention
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But coronavirus doesn’t have to be a viral boogeyman. Honesty and directness are key to having a productive conversation with your child about this new disease, said Diane Bales, associate professor of human development and family science at the University of Georgia.
Here are a few tips on how to frame that chat to relieve your child’s fears about the virus:
Monitor the information your child is getting
Depending on how old your kid is, a lot of what they’re seeing may be from social media, which is not always the most reliable source of information. You want to make sure to watch and contextualize what your child is reading or hearing. Answer their questions honestly without going into too much detail, if it’s not required.
“Very young children who don’t have the basic ability to understand how germs are spread are just going to be scared by this information,” said Bales. You may need to explain that process on their level to help them understand that they’re not going to spontaneously get sick from the virus and that there are things they can do to stay healthy.
Without diminishing the effect the outbreak is having on China, explain to your child that the coronavirus isn’t widespread in the U.S. Help them understand that they aren’t likely to come into contact with the virus.
Give children a sense of agency
Teaching kids to wash their hands regularly and sneeze into their elbows instead of their hands gives them a sense of control over their bodies. “It gives them a feeling of ‘there’s this thing out there that’s scary but there are things I can do to prevent getting it,’” Bales said.
Use the opportunity to explain why it’s important to stay home if you feel sick
Sometimes parents don’t even realize the potential seriousness of sending their kids to school while they’re still contagious. This is a good opportunity to teach children (and remind yourself) how important it is to limit contact with people while sick to avoid spreading their bug to other people.
Reference:
- How to talk to your child about coronavirus - (https://news.uga.edu/how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-coronavirus)
Source-Newswise