Covid Convos with Kids

“Covid Convos” with Kids

You're a parent and you care about your kids, a lot. You want to do your very best to protect your child from the dangers of the world, skill them up with tools to navigate life, and know how to deal when things get bumpy.

Well, corona is a time where we get to challenge all of those. Finding ways to find calm in the storm of the unknown, facing the rough patch of uncertainty and adjusting to some new and uncomfortable changes. 

One of the ways we educate our children is by conversations (and some other ways are by modeling behavior and choices and by who and what we choose to expose our kids to).

The CDC has provided some recommendations to help grown ups have conversations with children about COVID-19, to help them process what is going on, and finding ways to stay healthy and safe.

Children may have some valid worries about themselves, their friends, pets and friends about getting ill with COVID-19. If you’re a family member, mentor, parent, school staff, or other adult in a child’s life, you play an impactful role in helping the child make sense of what he/she/they are being exposed to in an accurate, calm, and honest way, without producing added anxiety or fear. 

Tips for the talk

Keep Calm.

Children hear not only what we are saying, but also what we are feeling. Your cues will let them know if they have reason to worry or if you seem assured and are calm and confident that you will all be okay.Take a moment to ground yourself and breath before talking to your child. And if you have some worries, share it with a fellow adult or trusted professional so you don't share that worry with your child.

Reiterate Safety 

It’s important to remind your child/ren that they are safe. They are allowed to feel annoyed, angry or frustrated. You can let them know that adults also feel big feelings, and it’s all normal. You can also let your child know the ways you have found to help yourself “shake the feels” out and they can learn from you some ways to cope. (going for a run, dancing to fun music, yelling into a pillow, talking to someone close, drawing out the sad or worried feelings, praying..) 

Be available to talk or to listen.

Let your children know that you are here for them when they have anything to share or ask. 

Notice and Limit.

Be attuned to what your children are seeing or hear on the news- on TV, the radio, or online. I’ve never seen reducing the the amount of screen time focused on COVID-19 to be a bad thing, so wherever you are at, try to reduce that input by 20%. Less is more in times like these. Too much info can cause children to worry a bit too much

Share truthful information, and ensure it’s appropriate for their age level.

Though you may want to shield your child from the news, you won’t be doing any good if you don’t share the basic fasts, as they will hear it from someone else, who, likely, may share it in a more frightening or dramatic or mis-attend way for your child’s age. You are the best person to think about how to share basic facts that are appropriate for the age and developmental level of your  child. It also helps to let your children know that many stories on COVID-19 on the Internet and social media are often based on rumors and inaccurate information. Like all humans, children often misinterpret what they hear and can feel fearful about something they heard and don’t fully  grasp. 

Teach your child daily routines to reduce germ spread.

Remind your children that washing their hands and staying away from others who are sick or coughing or sneezing is an important step. Also, show them again how to sneeze and cough into their elbow or reach for a tissue, and throw it in the trash and always wash with soap after. 

The Facts to Share

Try to keep information simple and remind them that health and school officials are working hard to keep everyone safe and healthy.

What is COVID-19?

• Coronavirus is a new virus. scientists and doctors are learning about it, as it’s a new virus that has made a lot of people sick. The doctors and scientists are working hard to help people who are sick to get better. 

• COVID-19 is a short name for “coronavirus disease 2019.”

• Doctors and health experts are giving us tips to help us stay strong and healthy

• You can make sure not to get covid by washing your hands, staying away from sick people and listening to the rules we are following about keeping distant from non-immediate family, for now. 

What happens when someone gets sick with COVID-19?

• If you get sick, it may not be covid. You might get sick from having a cold or from catching a germ. If you get sick, the grown ups in your life will help you rest up and help you get better. 

• Covid is different for different people. For some people, getting sick with covid would be like having the flu, where they would have a fever and a cough and may have hard time taking deep breaths, and  have to stay in bed and drink lots of water and rest up.. Most people who have been sick with covid did not get very sick and got better and are back to themselves. A small group of people who had it got more seriously sick. 

Let them know that this is survivable and life can and will continue

Children can go into fear mode and worry that when things change, many  more things will change and life will never be good again. Let your kids know that the world has faced pandemics before and there are specialists who are working to keep us safe with medical recommendations and medical plans for finding a way to treat this.  Let them know the things in life that will stay the same. Family dinners, birthdays, bedtime routines and the like are important, so their minds and bodies can adjust to a sense of stability even as the world shifts around them. 

And to you, my dear reader and fellow grown up, just a small tip:

Remember to keep yourself well nourished with surrounding yourself (even virtually) by those who support you, love you and are checking in on how you’re adjusting to the life changes. Tend to your eating and sleep patterns and find a small outlet to keep yourself focused and energized. A small morning stretch,  a few min of meditation or a morning run can give you the boost you may need. And, if you’re in one-on-one counseling, stick to that and allow yourself to get the support and processing you’ve been engaged in. There’s always space to address daily adjustments and address the changes you’ve had to face with covid. 

For now, I’m here sending you some strength and support your way. 

Xx Esther