
These are unpredictable times, which often leads to fear, panic, and strong emotional drives. We as parents have the responsibility to protect our children. At the same time, having fully adult conversations with children, who often can’t understand what you are talking about, can increase fear exponentially. As is the case with most crises, leaving the news on 24/7 while you educate yourself can lead to anxiety in children. Media outlets benefit from the fear they generate; the more scared you are the more news (their news) you watch to prepare and inform yourself. Kids aren’t critical consumers of the news. They don’t usually have the critical thinking skills to listen to the news or read data and to then sort it into categories. They can’t tell as well as an adult can what is “helpful” to them versus data that is poorly supported or engineered to increase anxiety in a consumer. As parents, we are charged with the obligation to help our children understand this illness, as well as other crises in their futures, in a way that is appropriate for their age. Below, please see some excellent “kid-friendly” ways to talk with children and pre-adolescents about COVID-19, why it is more than just an extended holiday from school, and what they can do to help. Knowledge is power, so arming kids with good information and active strategies that help them feel in control can go a long way toward reducing panic and increasing effective behaviors and problem solving. WASH YOUR HANDS!!
NPR’s comic to explain the basics of COVID-19
National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s Caregiver Guide to COVID-19
National Association of School Psychologists’ How to Talk to Kids About COVID-19
New York Times How to Talk to Tweens and Teens About COVID-19