At Friends Christian School, we know how stressful the current situation is—for everyone in the household. As parents, you’re trying to protect your kids from the coronavirus while still ensuring that they’re not falling behind in school and are mentally stimulated enough to not become bored or depressed. Yet, many younger children don’t fully understand what’s going on in the larger world. So, how do you allay your children’s fears and address all their questions? Here are some ways to navigate talking with kids about crisis.
- Schedule a time to have the discussion: During the day, your kids might be distracted with schoolwork and other activities. So, you might do well to talk during dinner or right before bed when they’re a more captive audience. Since younger children will react differently than older children, you might want to address each group separately—if possible.
- Be prepared to start answering questions as soon as they have questions: You can’t put off their questions until you’re ready since it might make them even more anxious. As soon as your children want to know what’s going on, talk to them. Try not to make your answers too involved, but fully answer their questions.
- Start with what they know: More than likely, your children have already heard a lot of news about the virus, but some of it might not be true. Listen closely to what they have to say and what they’ve heard from the media (both legitimate and illegitimate sources), and break down what’s true and what’s not. Most importantly, dispel confusion that might make them anxious, like the idea that everyone who’s sick has coronavirus and may wind up in the hospital—or worse.
- Be Honest: If they’re worried about grandpa or grandma being affected, be truthful with them. Yes, tell them that their grandparents might get ill, but then reiterate that this is why it’s important to take steps for everyone to stay healthy and secure—i.e., only calling grandma as opposed to going over to her house.
- Talk to Them About How to Stay Healthy: Ensure your kids that they’re safe, but that they must take measures to keep protecting themselves. While it might be difficult to convince a younger child to wash his or her hands or practice social distancing, you can get creative. Give them rewards or special treats (i.e., an extra hour playing their favorite video game). And, emphasize that this is what we must do every day—especially now.
Friends Christian School is committed to assisting our parents throughout this difficult time. We invite you to reach out with any questions or concerns.
