Talking to Your Children about Coronavirus

The world is changing day by day due to the coronavirus. Schools and businesses are closing for an undetermined period of time. Anxiety and fear in adults is increasing as this threat moves closer and closer to home. How is this effecting our young children and teens? What should we tell our children about this virus and it's effect on our society?

First and foremost, check your level of fear and anxiety. Children and the people around you will feed off your fear. Are you taking all the precautions that the government has suggested? If you are, be somewhat comforted by the fact that you are doing all that you can do to keep yourself and your family safe. If you aren't, begin today.

Talk to your children about the virus in terms that are age appropriate. Younger children can understand about spreading nasty germs. They can be taught that handwashing, elbow bumps instead of hugs and handshakes, and distancing themselves from older family members will help prevent the spread of these nasty germs. I recommend viewing the news with your tweens and teens so you can answer their questions and alleviate their fears about this pandemic and help them to understand the things that they can do to help be part of the solution.

I am a grandparent of two young grandchildren. Due to my asthma, my husband and I are self isolating. We continue to interact with our grandchildren in several ways.  They play games and blow bubbles in our backyard while we watch from inside. We blow kisses and play hand games on the window between us. I am happy to say there are lots of finger prints on our glass door. We are also reading books and playing games via facetime or skype. We are also writing letters and drawing pictures for each other and leaving them in a toy mailbox.

If you have other ideas about staying connected, I would love to hear about them as it looks like we may be in this for the long haul.

A Need to Teach Your Children to Stay Safe in the Event of...

In today's society, I think that each of us needs to teach our children how to stay safe in the event of a home break in, school shooting, abduction, etc.  Sadly the world that they are growing up in seems to be more dangerous than the world we grew up in.  Some may argue that this is due to better reporting rather than an actually increase, but I think the dangers facing our children are on the increase. 

I will be addressing some of the dangers that your child may be faced with and what to teach them to do in this series on "Keeping Your Child Safe".  I will be giving you practical ideas to practice with your child about what to do when they find themselves in a bad situation.  Some parents may think that this will scare their children, but I like to think of it as preparing children.  If you think this will scare your child, consider the way that you present the information.  Take time to calmly explain to them that it is highly unlikely that this will happen to them but "arming" them with what to do in these events may build their confidence in handle other situations in their lives as well as provide some quality time for you and your child.