The global pandemic is all over the news, social media, and the tips of the tongue these days. It’s impossible to escape. For young children, the idea of a virus sweeping the world can be an overwhelming, anxiety-provoking topic. They may worry about catching it themselves and dying, or about its impact on friends and family. They might feel sad or confused about school closing.

As a parent, it’s natural to want to shelter our children from the unpleasantries of life. We don’t want them to panic or take on adult concerns as their own. However, protecting kids from the news headlines doesn’t do them any favors.

As Mister Rogers once said, “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” By that token, we’re not only helping our children cope with changes in their world, but we’re helping ourselves too.

We’ve compiled the best expert tips for how to talk to your kids about coronavirus…

1. Find out what they know and what concerns they have.

Chances are, your kids have already heard the term “coronavirus” thrown around at school. They might have played a game of tag where they “catch the virus,” rather than tagging “it.” Or the teacher might be a little extra fanatical about handwashing and sanitizing. Some schools may be handing out gloves and masks or showing videos about how viruses spread. Older children may have witnessed xenophobic bullying.

Though they may not fully understand it or know how seriously to take the threat, they are undoubtedly beginning to notice how it affects their daily lives, as schools close and events cancel. Their imaginations may begin to run wild with possibilities.  

You might ask an open-ended question such as, “What have you heard about coronavirus?” or “Do you have any questions about coronavirus?” If they’ve brought it up, you might say, “It sounds like you’re worried. Can you tell me what you’re worried about?” Take this opportunity to clear up any misconceptions they have and address anxieties. 

2. Stick to the honest facts and then reassure them.

If your kids have no idea what coronavirus is or what its spread through communities means, start with a few simple facts. You might explain, “Virus germs cause different illnesses that spread from person to person. You know, like a cold or the flu or a throwing up sickness? It’s like that, but a little more serious.”

“Coronavirus is a new one that has started to affect people, mainly in other countries, but a few people here. Because we are still working on the medicines to cure it, people are concerned about limiting the spread in our communities. So we’re taking extra steps to stay safe.”

To date, no children under age 10 have died from coronavirus. For ages 10 to 39, the risk of fatal complications is just 0.2 percent. Let your child know, “For most people, the new coronavirus results in only mild or moderate symptoms like a fever and a cough. Most people get better after a few weeks. Older people and people with existing health problems might become sicker with pneumonia.”

Some kids may worry about grandma and grandpa or even mom and dad. To that end, you can simply say, “We are taking good care of ourselves and plan to live a very long time.” Younger kids, in particular, do not need to know all the latest information, as much as they need to be reassured that they are safe and life will continue as normally as possible. If your child has questions about why people are wearing masks, you can explain that government health officials from the CDC say “masks are not necessary for most people,” but these individuals are “choosing to be extra-cautious.”

It’s okay to let kids know you’re worried. You don’t want to brush off their feelings either. “It’s okay to feel a little scared. When I first heard about it, I was scared too.” Put the fear into context by saying, “But it isn’t much scarier than the things we deal with every day” or “But we’re doing what we can to stay healthy.” Let them know how you’re coping and how they can alleviate some of their stress. “Going outside and playing with the dog helped me feel better,” you might say.

Sometimes it’s easiest to explain with the use of age-appropriate visual aids as a guide. NPR has an awesome comic that explains the basics of coronavirus. BrainPOPhas educational games, activities, and a cartoon illustrating how viruses spread, so kids can understand what’s going on without excessive alarm.

Beware of information overload, but you can keep a pulse on the latest COVID-19 developments with Accuweather’s Daily Briefings, the NY Times website, or the World Health Organization updates.

3. Emphasize healthy hygiene habits and how to stay safe.

“It’s important for kids to understand that they have a role to play in this,” explains Christina Chang, CEO of global health organization Vital Strategies. Kids feel empowered when they have steps they can take to stay safe and prevent germ spread. Chang adds, “This is big and has a lot of unknowns, but there is some element of control. The things that keep you safe and healthy every day are the same habits that are going to keep you healthy through this outbreak.”

Emphasize handwashing hygiene, using soap for at least 20 seconds (during which time they can sing a brief song of their choice), getting in between fingers and under nails, and drying hands thoroughly after rinsing. Hands should be washed upon entering the house, before meals, after a cough or sneeze, after using the bathroom, and after taking public transportation or shopping.

Remind your kids to keep hands out of their eyes, noses, and mouths. Teach them that the skin is a barrier to germs, but these other body parts can act as “doors” or “windows” for germs to get inside, so it’s important that they tell their hands “no” to picking noses, biting nails, and rubbing eyes. Give them alternatives like tissues, chewing necklaces, and eye drops.

Teach proper sneezing technique. Some day cares tell kids to “sneeze into your chicken wing,” which is a funny way of describing the inner bend of the elbow. They laugh and remember it more easily.  

The Public Broadcasting Station offers video clips, songs, games, and apps from Daniel Tiger, Sesame Street, Curious George, and Super WHY! that emphasize how to wash hands, sneeze into an elbow, and fight germs through healthy hygiene habits.

4. Take care of your minds and bodies.

Limits placed on social activities can be stressful for small children and yourself.

Take care to get outside every day, even if it’s just for a brief bundled-up, umbrella-carrying, 10-minute walk. The sunshine and fresh air can boost your mental health.

Indoor activities like Go Noodle exercises and Skyping or Facetiming friends can take the edge off the sense of confinement.

Try to make your weekends more fun with family board games, movie nights, or craft projects. Check out Ways To Keep The Kids From Going Stir-Crazy Over Winter Break for ideas.

Spring small group enrichment classes are currently still in session with Shine, so contact us for details.

Household messes are taking a huge toll on American families – and there’s research to prove it. According to a survey conducted by Closet Maid, 92 percent of parents describe their kids as “messy.” Astoundingly, parents pick up their kids’ toys an average of 1,456 times per year. (Oh, if we could only have all that time back!) Eighty percent of parents give their kids chores, but half of them admit to doing the chores themselves to “make sure it’s done properly.” Two out of three parents say their children’s messiness leaves them in a bad mood.

January is a time of renewal, where many of us feel hopeful about achieving cleaner, more harmonious homes. There are ample reasons why picking up with your kids is good for their development as well. Find a way to make it fun and interactive, so you can exhale clutter and breathe-in sanity.

Benefits of Encouraging Kids to Declutter and Clean

There are many reasons why you should make family decluttering and cleaning a priority:

• You show your children they are part of something greater than themselves. The most important message cleaning together sends to the kids is that they are part of the family, too. They are expected to contribute to the household, just as mommy and daddy contribute time, money, and care. They eat the food, wear the clothes, play with the toys, and dirty the dishes, so they should also be part of the cleanup effort. Starting in toddlerhood, kids have the intrinsic desire to be with others; if they see you or an older sibling cleaning, they will naturally want to join in and be a part of the group. This is important for their happiness and emotional development.

• You are the first teacher. On a practical level, training how to diligently wipe a counter top or fold clothing provides real-world skills that will become useful later in life.

• Kids can experience the joy of accomplishment. It can be rewarding to see a trashed space become more habitable. It’s easier for your child to appreciate a space’s transformation when they are part of the process.

• Cleaning encourages thoughtfulness and situational awareness. Regular enforcement of chores breeds responsibility and teaches children the value of work. In time, your child will begin to think twice before walking across the floor in muddy boots or leaving a dish on the table – knowing that this small carelessness will create more work for someone else in the household. In Mexico, they have a term for volunteerism within families: acomedido. It’s not just doing what you’re told or helping out; it’s knowing the kind of help that is appropriate because you’re paying attention and situationally aware.

• Kids are more creative in clean work spaces. Not surprisingly, research confirms that children work better and feel less stressed in spaces that are clean and free from clutter.

• The time is now to create healthy lifelong habits. Brown University found that routines and habits in children – including household chores and responsibilities – are unlikely to vary after the age of nine, all the way through high school.  

5 Games That Make Decluttering and Cleaning Fun for Kids

1. Guess the “secret” item: This game works great for a room full of toy clutter. If you have more than one child, give each one a bin to fill. Write down the names of two or three “secret items.” Whoever collects these items gets to choose a prize. You could fill a small treasure chest with Dollar Store items, pass out a treat, or use reward stickers if your kids are into that. If you have only one child, have them pick up a bin and then play a guessing game with clues where they get a prize for a correct answer. Remember, it’s best if you collect a bin to show you’re “all in it together,” rather than bossing from the sidelines.   

2. Learning scavenger hunt: Little ones who are learning to count love the challenge of finding certain items. You can use scavenger hunts to reinforce learning. “Can you find eight dinosaurs and put them in this bin?” you might ask. “Can you put four round plates into the sink?” you might add. If you’re creative and your kids are in kindergarten or beyond, you can draw up a visual scavenger hunt chart to see if they’re up to the task. If your child is learning about colors, you can say, “I spy with my little eye something that is… blue!” and have your child find all the blue items until you’re ready to move onto another color toy.

3. Pretend play time: Cleaning doesn’t have to be a dull exercise in drudgery. It can be the time of day where we can all be our best selves – whether that’s a super hero parent or a dinosaur child. Need to make beds? You can pretend you’re a bunch of buccaneers hoisting the sails. Need to pick up toys? You can put on techno music and walk around the house like a fleet of cleanup robots, bending stiffly at the waist and speaking in robotic voices. Need to clean counters? Have an older child wield the squirt bottle like it’s a firefighter’s hose. Need to do the dishes? Pretend you are Snow White and the dwarves whistling while you work. There are countless scenarios.

4. The toy gobbler monster: Nothing motivates kids more than the threat of the “Toy Gobbler Monster” (a.k.a. your vacuum cleaner) hungrily sucking up all their toys. This only works for a certain type of child who is more physically active than sensitive. Keep it in good-hearted fun by announcing with mock-worry, “Oh no, I think the Toy Gobbler is waking up in his lair… you’d better get these toys put into their beds before the greedy Toy Gobbler gets here!” Meander ever so slowly with the vacuum until the toys get put away, pointing out priority items for your child to collect so they feel particularly accomplished.

5. Smile, you’re on camera: Kids are natural hams and love to be in front of the camera. Tell them you’re going to film “commercials” of them doing whatever chore needs to be done – whether it’s mopping the floor, doing the dishes, or sorting laundry. Or you could tell them you’re filming a documentary about “kids who help their families around the house,” and ask them to narrate what they’re doing and how they’re doing it. These videos will be yours to cherish for years to come.

Want the fun party without all the mess? Leave setup and cleanup to Shine!Contact us to learn more.