“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.”
Here are some guidelines:
– Remain calm and reassuring
– Make yourself available
– Avoid excessive blaming
– Monitor television viewing and social media
– Maintain a normal routine to the extent possible
– Be honest and accurate
– Know the symptoms of COVID-19
– Review and model basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle practices for protection
– Take time to talk
– Keep explanations age appropriate