Talking to younger kids about coronavirus
How to speak to younger children about Covid-19.
1. Speak calmly
Use a calm voice throughout the conversation. Kids pick up on emotional cues. If you seem anxious, they’ll feel more worried. It may help to take a few deep, calming breaths before you start.
2. Ask what they know
Kids can be information sponges. That means they often know more than you think. They can also get things wrong. Asking what they know tells you what they understand. It also tells you if there’s anything you need to correct.
3. Share age-appropriate facts
Describe things in a way that makes sense in their world. Even little kids understand what it’s like to have a cough or fever.
Explain that kids don’t usually get sick and if they do it’s more like a cold. Tell them most people stay at home, rest and get better – and for those who get really sick there are incredible doctors and nurses ready to help.
4. Explain why we need to do some things differently right now
Talk about germs and how they can travel from person to person.
Say things like “if everyone gets sick at once, doctors won’t have time to help everyone that needs them. This means we need to do things to stop germs spreading from one person to another.”
Explain that might mean things like “adults working from home, schools closing, and standing far away from people you don’t live with”.
5. Be reassuring
Kids need to be reassured they and the people they care about are safe. Explain that the Government is doing lots of things to keep people healthy. Talk about the fact that clever scientists from all around the world are working as hard and fast as possible to develop a vaccine.
6. Empower
Give your kids a sense of control. Everyone feels better when they know they can do something.
Explain there are things they can do right now to help. Like not touching their face, and only coughing or sneezing into a tissue, or their elbow. Explain how regular hand washing with soap is a germ “buster”.
Talk about things you can do as a family to help others, like calling grandparents, or making care packages.
7. Keep talking
Keep checking in. Make sure your kids know they can share their worries. Don’t dismiss or minimise what they’re feeling. Explain it’s normal to feel stressed right now. Talk about things they can do when they feel worried, like deep breathing.
If kids say they’re fine, don’t push. Let them be. Remind them you’re available to talk when they’re ready.
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