Right now, every American’s life and routine has been disrupted.
Schools are closed, families are sequestered, people are worried about the health of loved ones, and of course, there’s the fear of the unknown.
RIGHT NOW LIFE IS CHANGED FORFAMILIES ACROSS AMERICA.
EVENYOUNGER KIDS KNOW... SOMETHINGIS UP.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TOTALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUTCORONAVIRUS, WITHOUTINCREASING THEIR ANXIETY?THE IMAGES ARE EVERYWHERE, SOIT'S NATURAL THAT OUR KIDSHEAR MORE THAN WE THINK THEYDO ABOUT CORONAVIRUS."I heardabout it in Wuhan, China, andI heard it's spreading more."DOCTOR ABIGAIL SCHLESINGER ISA PSYCHIATRIST THAT WORKS WITHKIDS.
SHE SAYS BEFORE TALKINGABOUT CORONAVIRUS WITH YOURCHILD,TAKE A MINUTE TO BECALM, AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVETHE FACTS."Although it'simportant to show kids thatyou have emotions, you mightbe anxious about something.What you don't want to do isinadvertently dump youremotions on them."SCHLESINGERSAYS START BY ASKING KIDS IFTHEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
BEHONEST BUT KEEP IT SIMPLE.
FOREXAMPLE, IF YOUNG KIDS ASK WHYTHEY CAN'T PLAY WITH FRIENDS,she suggests... "WE'RE TAKINGA BREAK FROM PLAYING WITHOTHERS SO EVERYONE CAN STAYHEALTHY." KIDS SEE SOMEONEWEARING A MASK... SCHLESINGERSAYS TRY... "SOMETIMES PEOPLECOVER THEIR FACES WHEN THEYDON'T FEEL WELL." TOUGHSITUATION... AN ADULT NEEDS TOBE SEPARATED FROM THEM.SCHLESINGER RECOMENDS AVOIDINGWORDS LIKE SICKNESS ANDQUARANTINE.
SHE SUGGETS..."MOMMY NEEDS TO BE AWAY FOR ALITTLE WHILE, BUT SHE'LL BEBACK SOON." SCHLESINGER SAYSEVEN IN THIS TIME OF CHANGE,IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SOMEROUTINES ARE MAINTAINED."Sobasic routines, like when kidseat dinner, when kids go tobed, those can be retained,even in times of quarantineand social distancing."FINALLY, EMPOWER KIDS BYFOCUSING ON THE THINGS THEYCAN CONTROL, LIKE HYGIENE ANDHAND WASHING.Every time I talkto my kids to wash their handsand using the sanitizer."CHILD TRENDS" IS A NON-PROFITTHAT OFFERS SUPPORT AND HELPFOR FAMILIES DEALING WITHSTRESSFUL EVENTS... LIKE THECOVID-19 PANDEMIC.
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