Protecting Our Children From COVID 19 We are constantly talking about coronavirus at dinner, in the car and at sporting events (or we were talking about it at those events, before they got canceled). We are making contingency plans and stocking up on shelf-stable food and purchasing other supplies. And as much as we want to shield our children from the headlines and alarm, the reality is that we are all consumed by this emerging threat. As a pediatrician, I worry about how this new stress is affecting our kids. In my office, kids are asking “to have my blood tested for the bad virus” and “Is my grandma going to be OK?” Some kids are also asking about their own safety: “If I wash my hands, I won’t get sick?” and “Will this virus kill me?” These questions are an understandable reflection of the strain communities and families are under, and the concerns kids are hearing about. So now, more than ever, we need to check in with our kids to see what they know and how they are doing. Photo by Pexel, Inc.
Here’s what you can do: • Ask questions to understand what your kids know. • Answer their questions, but don’t inundate them with information. • Validate your children’s concerns. • Show your kids that you’re in the know and monitoring the situation. • Let kids know that many smart people are trying to help us. Follow suit by heeding expert advice and encourage your kids to do the same. • If you’re now working from home (and you weren’t before), explain why. • Point out that taking precautions helps others who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, like older adults and those with chronic diseases like diabetes. • Don’t make travel promises. • Model positive ways of coping with stress, and anxiety. • Understand your own emotions. Focus on solutions. Ask Questions: • Talking to our kids about the coronavirus begins like any other important conversation – by asking questions. What do you know about COVID-19? What did you learn about the coronavirus in school (before that, too, was canceled)? What are your friends saying? Have you seen articles or YouTube videos about the coronavirus? What do you remember reading or seeing? • Alternatively, if a child is coming to you with questions or expressing concern, get more background information before you answer. Try: “Tell me more about that” or “Why are you asking?” Answer Kids’ Questions: • Open-ended questions and probing follow-up questions help to reveal how kids are processing information. This helps you build the mental framework you need to offer responses in an ageappropriate way. In addition, it prevents the trap of “over-answering” a child’s question, or inadvertently sharing new information that could make their anxiety worse. “Let’s work to keep our children healthy and happy.”
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September / October 2020 - www.globalonemagazine.com
