Talking about coronavirus with children

The coronavirus pandemic has been a difficult time for everyone, including children. They are more aware than we sometimes give them credit for. However, they may not know the full picture so it is up to parents and carers to look out for their worries, talk to them and take care of their mental health. Parent Club has some great advice on its website - www.parentclub.scot

And remember that if you are concerned about your children’s mental health speak to your GP, make use of NHS Inform, and talk to family and friends too.

Parent Club tips on how to help your children stop worrying:

Tip #1: Draw your worry

Together, you and your child could try drawing their worry – be as expressive as you like – a big old scribble is a good start! The worry is now stuck to the page and you can scrunch it up and put it in the bin.

Tip #2: In your happy place

Ask your child to think of their favourite place and describe it to you. What can they see, hear, touch, smell and taste? How do they feel?

Tip #3: Deep breaths

Taking deep breaths sounds like an obvious way to relax – but it works! Get your child to hold out their hand and then trace round each finger with the first finger of the other hand, breathing in and out deeply as they trace up and down the fingers and thumb.

Tip #4: Get musical

Listening to their favourite music is a great way for kids to relax and feeling better. If they play an instrument, encourage them to practise – this will also take their mind off things.

Parent Club tips on how to talk about coronavirus with your child:

Tip #1: Stay up to date with the latest advice

Before you talk to your wee ones, make sure you know the latest news and guidance about coronavirus. There's lots of fake news out there, so it's best to stick to sources you can trust, like the NHS and Scottish Government websites.

Tip #2: Don’t be afraid to bring it up

You might feel that your child is unaware of what’s going on. But just because they haven’t brought it up with you doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking about it, or that they aren't worried.

Tip #3: Choose a calm moment

Pick a moment when you and your kids aren’t stressed, in a hurry or hungry and you have time to talk things through properly. Some younger children especially will like to sit close to you or have a hug while you speak to them. It’s okay for you to admit you’re worried, but try not to let them see you panic. That way they’ll see that you think these worries are things that can be managed. It may help to talk to someone else about any worries you have first, before you speak to them.

Tip #4: Think about how much they need to know

How much you tell them depends on how old your child is. You know your children best, so only explain as much as you think they need to know. If you have more than one child, what you say to your older kids may be different to what you say to your youngest. You might want to remind the older children to look after the little ones and all think together about how to manage any worries.

Tip #5: Listen to their concerns

Be careful not to dismiss anything they’re worried about. They may understand it better than you think and their concerns will be real. Calmly reassure them that it’s okay to be worried but that for most people it’s a mild illness. Keep the information simple and factual. Remind them that you’ve all had colds and other illness before and recovered.

Tip #6: Tell them how they can help

Make sure they know the importance of washing their hands and that by doing this they’re helping fight the virus. And this helps keep other people safe too. Everyone should wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds – the time it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice – or why not let them pick a different song? Give them praise for washing their hands well. You could say: ‘I really like the way you remembered to wash your thumb’ or ‘That was a great song to choose and I really liked the way you concentrated on washing your hands whilst you were singing so loudly’. There are lots of funny videos online of children and adults washing their hands.

Tip #7: Try not to avoid difficult questions

If they’re worried about granny or other at-risk relatives or friends, ignoring their concerns won’t make them go away. Let them know you are also thinking about this and explain everything you’re doing to help keep granny safe. If possible, let them join in with video chats with relatives or friends. Don’t make promises that can’t be kept, but do let them know that you and other adults they love have support from other people, so they don’t need to feel responsible.

Tip #8: Make sure they know you’re there for them

They may have more questions or worries. Let them know you are happy to talk about anything. Remind them of the things that help them when they’re feeling scared. This could be family games, story books, a favourite film or a big hug. We all manage stress better when we feel like we have ways of managing fear and anxiety.

Tip #9: Let them know about the good news

Talk to them about all the positive kind things people are doing for each other during this time.

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