We keep hearing it and thinking it over and over again: these are unprecedented times—and they are. But despite the quiet air of social distancing across our neighborhoods and towns, there’s also quite a bit of noise—24-hour news channels, Twitter feeds, daily press conferences, and more.
We’re here to summarize some of that noise for you! And to round-up some quality links that we know you can trust.
Today’s topic: How to talk about COVID-19 with your little ones.
Remember—you're the model.
These may be unprecedented times, but this remains the same: your littles will mirror your behavior in this crisis. As a result, it’s important to send calm, reassuring messages to your kids. Bonus—doing so can actually help keep you calm at the same time.
Don’t forget your Listening Ears.
As parents, we do a lot of the talking, but in times like these, it’s even more important that we’re listening to our little ones as they share their feelings and thoughts. It’s also important that your children know you’re available to them when they need you, and that you take their thoughts and feelings seriously. When they want to talk—listen, respond, and empathize.
Keep the grownup talk between grownups, but no need to lie.
While it’s important to gauge what your specific child’s emotional needs are during this time, especially when it comes to sharing information, it’s also never a good idea to lie. In fact, now might be a good time to address the differences between rumors and truths with your kids—and how it can be tricky to know the difference.
Talk openly about germs and how we can stop them.
Once of the most important takeaways from this entire experience should be everyone’s attention to how we spread our germs to one another and how we can stop. Be sure to use this time to drive home the CDC guidelines for hand washing. There's never been a better time to build good habits.
Throw play into the mix.
There’s room for play everywhere—especially in cleaning up germs. Switch up the songs you sing while washing your hands, and turn your disinfection moments into dance parties. We could all use a little more play in our lives these days.
FURTHER READING:
Talking With Children About Coronavirus [CDC]
Your Kids and COVID-19 [The Family Institute at Northwestern University]
Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus [Child Mind Institute]