Concern over this new virus can make children and families anxious. Helping children cope with anxiety requires providing accurate prevention information and facts without causing undue alarm. It is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If parents seem overly worried, children’s anxiety may rise. Parents should reassure children that health and school officials are working hard to ensure that people throughout the country stay healthy. However, children also need factual, age appropriate information about the potential seriousness of disease risk and concrete instruction about how to avoid infections and spread of disease. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety.
Remain calm and reassuring. • Children will react to and follow your verbal and nonverbal reactions. • What you say and do can either increase or decrease your children’s anxiety. • If true, emphasize to your children that they and your family are fine. • Remind them that you and the adults at their school are there to keep them safe and healthy. • Let your children talk about their feelings and help reframe their concerns into the appropriate perspective. Make yourself available. • Children may need extra attention from you and may want to talk about their concerns, fears, and questions. • It is important that they know they have someone who will listen to them; make time for them. • Tell them you love them and give them plenty of affection. Avoid excessive blaming. • It is important to avoid stereotyping any one group of people as responsible for the virus. • Bullying or negative comments made toward others should be stopped and reported to the school. • Be aware of any comments that other adults are having around your family. You may have to explain what comments mean if they are different than the values that you have at home. Monitor television viewing and social media. • Try to avoid watching or listening to information that might be upsetting when your children are present. • Speak to your child about how many stories about COVID-19 on the Internet may be based on rumors and inaccurate information. • Talk to your child about factual information of this disease—this can help reduce anxiety. • Constantly watching updates on the status of COVID-19 can increase anxiety—avoid this. • Be aware that developmentally inappropriate information (i.e., information designed for adults) can cause anxiety or confusion, particularly in young • Engage your child in games or other interesting activities instead. Maintain a normal routine to the extent possible. • Keep to a regular schedule, as this can be reassuring and promotes physical health. • Encourage your children to keep up with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities if possible, but don’t push them if they seem overwhelmed. Be honest and accurate. • In the absence of factual information, children often imagine situations far worse than reality. • Children can be told this disease is thought to be spread between people who are in close contact with one another—when an infected person coughs or sneezes. • It is also thought it can be spread when you touch an infected surface or object, which is why it is so important to protect yourself. • For additional factual information consult: Health Canada at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html.
Review and model basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle practices for protection. • Encourage your child to practice every day good hygiene—simple steps to prevent spread of illness: • Wash hands multiple times a day for at least 20 seconds • Cover their mouths with a tissue when they sneeze or cough and throw away the tissue immediately, or sneeze or cough into the bend of their elbow. Do not share food or drinks. • Practice giving fist or elbow bumps instead of handshakes. Fewer germs are spread this way. • Giving children guidance on what they can do to prevent infection gives them a greater sense of control over disease spread and will help to reduce their anxiety. Discuss new rules or practices at school. • Communicate with your school. • Talk to your school nurse, school psychologist, school counselor, or school social worker if your child is having difficulties as a result of anxiety or stress related to COVID-19. They can give guidance and support to your child at school. • Make sure to follow all instructions from your school.
Take Time to Talk. You know your children best. Let their questions be your guide as to how much information to provide. However, don’t avoid giving them the information that health experts identify as critical to ensuring your children’s health. Be patient; children and youth do not always talk about their concerns readily. Watch for clues that they may want to talk, such as hovering around while you do the dishes or yard work. It is very typical for younger children to ask a few questions, return to playing, then come back to ask more questions. When sharing information, it is important make sure to provide facts without promoting a high level of stress, remind children that adults are working to address this concern, and give children actions they can take to protect themselves. Keep Explanations Age Appropriate. • Early elementary school children need brief, simple information that should balance COVID-19 facts with appropriate reassurances that their schools and homes are safe. Give simple examples of the steps people take every day to stop germs and stay healthy, such as washing hands. • Upper elementary and early middle school children will be more vocal in asking questions about whether they truly are safe and what will happen if COVID-19 comes to their school or community. They may need assistance separating reality from rumor and fantasy. Discuss efforts of school and community leaders to prevent germs from spreading. • Upper middle school and high school students are able to discuss the issue in a more in-depth (adult-like) fashion and can be referred directly to appropriate sources of COVID-19 facts. Provide honest, accurate, and factual information about the current status of COVID-19. Having such knowledge can help them feel a sense of control. Suggested Points to Emphasize When Talking to Children. • Adults at home and school are taking care of your health and safety. If you have concerns, please talk to an adult you trust. • Not everyone will get the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. School and health officials are being especially careful to make sure as few people as possible get sick. • It is important that all students treat each other with respect and not jump to conclusions about who may or may not have COVID-19. • There are things you can do to stay healthy and avoid spreading the disease: o Avoid close contact with people who are sick. o Cover your cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. o Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. o Wash hands often with soap and water (20 seconds). o If you don’t have soap, use hand sanitizer (60–95% alcohol based).
o Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. Adopted from National Association of School Psychologists
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