{"id":142023,"date":"2020-03-13T10:16:56","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T14:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/richmondmom.com\/?p=142023"},"modified":"2020-04-02T12:26:25","modified_gmt":"2020-04-02T16:26:25","slug":"covid-19-and-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/richmondmom.com\/2020\/03\/13\/covid-19-and-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 and Kids: Talking to Our Kids About COVID-19 and Quarantine"},"content":{"rendered":"
As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise, panic is mounting around the world. Our media outlets are flooded with new information, heightened warnings, and an increasingly dire prediction of how this virus may affect us all. Needless to say, it’s overwhelming. And now, as schools in the Greater Richmond area (and around the nation) start to close their doors, many of us are worried not only about how we will manage this unexpected disruption to our schedules, but also how it will affect our children.<\/p>\n
The simple fact is that this is a stressful time for us as parents, because we worry about our children’s health, but also about their overall sense of safety and security. (Never mind the daunting prospect of having kids home in a quarantine scenario while many of us attempt to work remotely.) As we get ready to face an as yet unknown period of time at home with our kids, there are certain things we can do to help alleviate these stresses, both for our children and for ourselves.<\/p>\n
First, it’s important that we talk with our kids about what’s happening – and why. Secondly, like most things in life, having a plan in place will help provide a sense of stability and security for our entire family in an otherwise uncertain time<\/p>\n
Depending on your children’s ages and access to media, they may already be up-to-date on what’s happening around the world. However, don’t assume that knowledge equals understanding. There’s a lot of less-than-reliable information out there and between social media, sensational news stories, and school\/friend “chatter,” the facts often get jumbled, resulting in a game of “telephone” in which the truth becomes a nonsensical string of words by the time it reaches your kids’ ears.<\/p>\n
So here are a few ways that you can help your children understand what’s going on, and help them maintain their sense of safety:<\/p>\n
Regardless of your children’s ages, explain what’s going on. For younger children, it can be as simple as explaining that COVID-19 is like having the flu or a cold and that we are all working together to make sure no one else gets sick. Older children will be able to understand more, so use a trusted source (i.e., make sure you have YOUR facts straight) to help them understand in as much detail as they might want and answer any questions they might have. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) offers some great resources<\/a> for educating yourself and learning best practices for managing COVID-19.<\/p>\n As for explaining why they may have an unexpected “vacation” from school, help them understand that we are all working together to stay healthy. As part of this, we are practicing “social distancing” – or doing our part to limit interaction with people who might be sick and to make sure we don’t spread any germs ourselves.<\/p>\n There is no question that this is a scary time for all of us. However, experts have determined that children are at a lower risk of infection than adults<\/a>. As long as your child does not have existing medical issues or an otherwise compromised immune system, they should be ok. Remind them that there are incredible medical and science professionals working on COVID-19 at this very moment, and already improvements are being made. Also, remind them that we are fortunate to have medicine and doctors to help us should we feel sick.<\/p>\n As much as you may want to go into full freak-out mode and put your whole family in a sterilized bubble, remember that kids are more in tune to your moods and anxiety levels than you realize. The more panicked and stressed out you are, they more they will operate on the same level. Be calm and rationale when talking to them and offer simple explanations of any preventative measures you take.<\/p>\n Likewise, keep in mind that kids hear everything. If you and another adult are going to be discussing COVID-19, make sure that you choose your words carefully if kids are present.<\/p>\n COVID-19 spreads much in the same way as the common cold or flu. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they release “respiratory droplets” that can then be contracted by someone in close proximity who may breathe in the infected droplets through their mouth or nose. It is also possible that COVID-19 can be spread by touching an infected surface then touching your own mouth, nose, or eyes. And while most of us having been teaching our kids to wash their hands and “catch” their coughs and sneezes (in a tissue or sleeve – NOT with their hands!) since they were small, now is the time to up the ante and reinforce those good habits more than ever.<\/p>\nMake sure they feel safe\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Remember your anxiety will affect their anxiety, as well<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Use this as an opportunity to reinforce positive health habits<\/strong><\/h4>\n