The news about the Coronavirus is intensifying each day, and while it can be challenging for adults to absorb, children have an even more difficult time trying to understand what's happening and what could happen if it gets worse. If you have concerns about the disease then your child probably does too. Having a conversation with your child about topics like this can be daunting, especially when it feels like you don’t have the answers they’re seeking. Nonetheless, it is crucial to address their concerns.
Child psychologist Dr. Jillian Roberts suggests limiting your child’s exposure to media coverage about the outbreak, but to be prepared to talk about and process it together. Here are her tips for how to respond to a child when they ask what's happening and why:
1. Make sure that you are fully present for the conversation so the child knows their questions are important to you. This means putting down or shutting off any devices that could be distracting.
2. Thank them for bringing this up and asking questions about it. Showing them that you are appreciative of their openness will hopefully encourage them to continue asking you the difficult questions that arise in the future.
3. Empathize, validate the emotions that they are expressing and reassure them. Try saying something like “I can understand that this feels scary for you, and it makes sense for you to feel that way. I feel the same. Our world has dealt with viruses like this many times before and you are safe."
4. Help them focus on what we know now, rather than what might happen. Worrying about what could be can create anxiety and cause your child to fixate on worst case scenarios.
Remind your child about the importance of regularly washing their hands and covering their mouths when they cough to help keep germs from spreading.
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by bad news, but as Mr. Rogers famously told us, we need to “look for the helpers” to remind us that there is light in the dark and scary moments. Instilling this sense of hope in the children of today is essential to help them move forward through today's challenges and those to come.