How to Talk to Your Children about COVID-19

Specific Guidelines (From the National Association of School Psychologists) 

Remain calm and reassuring. 

• Children will react to and follow your verbal and nonverbal reactions. 
• What you say and do about COVID-19, current prevention efforts, and related events can either increase or decrease your children’s anxiety.
• If true, emphasize to your children that they and your family are fine.
• Remind them that you and the adults at their school are there to keep them safe and healthy.
• Let your children talk about their feelings and help reframe their concerns into the appropriate perspective. 

Make yourself available. 

• Children may need extra attention from you and may want to talk about their concerns, fears, and questions.
• It is important that they know they have someone who will listen to them; make time for them.
• Tell them you love them and give them plenty of affection. 

Avoid excessive blaming. 

• When tensions are high, sometimes we try to blame someone.
• It is important to avoid stereotyping any one group of people as responsible for the virus.
• Be aware of any comments that other adults are having around your family. You may have to explain what comments mean if they are different from the values that you have at home.

Full list of guidelines on how to talk to your children about COVID-19