Creating a positive message



 

How to talk to your children about social distancing and the corona virus
 

[April 03, 2020]   If you have children, you want them to understand the need to shelter-in-place and why it is important to protect ourselves from COVID-19 right now. While you should be truthful, it is important to share information that is age appropriate.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Barbara Nosals gives this expert advice on observing what you are modeling, "Remember that your kids take their cues from you. If you are obsessively worried about the corona virus and talking about it, your kids will likely have anxiety about it, too. Managing your own fears and concerns apart from them is important, as security is a primary need for children."

Maintaining some sense of routine and calm while helping them understand some of what is going on is also important.

Nikki Rhoades has three children of various ages and shared what works well for her family.

During this extra time together, Rhoades said, “Our schedule is pretty basic and simple. We post it on the fridge so they know what to expect next. It’s not rigid and we are flexible with it when we need to be.”

Doing daily lessons

Family reading time

Getting some fresh air

Rhoades girls doing water play

The Rhoades family has “an hour of quiet time after lunch each day.” During quiet time, the kids must be in their rooms with no tablets, but reading, Legos, coloring, puzzles and playing with toys seem to work. Rhoades said it “really helps us all to decompress and get away from each other.”

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Rhoades said her eight-year-old daughter naturally “understands more of why we need to adhere to shelter in place guidelines than the three-year-old.”

It may be hard to know what to explain to young kids.

A video Rhoades used to show when working as an educator showing how easily germs are spread helps and is great for kids to watch.

Because Rhoades has the benefit of having family in China and Macau, she said “back in January and February we were already talking to them and hearing about how they were not allowed to leave their homes and most things were closed.”

When everything started here, Rhoades said, “I explained that there was a sickness going around caused by germs. It’s possible to get the germs but not get sick, but we can still spread them. We talked about the many people in our lives that we love who are older or have underlying diseases that could have potentially serious effects from the illness.”

Rhoades came from the approach that “we were doing this to protect each other. I made sure I didn’t make it sound scary but that they took it seriously. It helps that many of our family and friends are also taking it seriously.”

As a nurse, Rhoades said, “I am likely going to be working here shortly at the Christian Village to help where needs are. It’s also my obligation to make sure I am not bringing the virus to the population here. That means my whole family needs to be strict about sheltering in place.”

The Rhoades approach has a sense of duty and solidarity, so their children don’t feel like they are the only ones that can’t play with friends. Rhoades said, “It is hard when other kids in the neighborhood aren’t following the shelter in place guidelines. As a healthcare provider it is even more important that my children avoid those families who may be spreading the virus without knowing.”

Rhoades used a soap, water and pepper experiment to help demonstrate the importance of handwashing.

To help keep the kids connected, Rhoades said the kids can speak with their friends on messenger, Marco Polo, and Zoom. They also see each other from a distance.

The Rhoades family is trying to maintain routine and calm with their children in these challenging times.

[Angela Reiners]

Related links:
https://www.romper.com/p/expert-advice-
for-explaining-coronavirus-to-your-kids-when-
everyone-else-is-panicking-22612602

How to Grow Bacteria:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuJxz
NtHU74&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=
IwAR1ZscHcWcjUG7x0RrFOWKakwPj88w
jjUGBHgz4jWqazjHA6lLV6wwNiUnw

We’re all about those hands, just wash ‘em (Set to Meghan Trainors hit song, “It’s all about that bass” https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=f_j-19iWMn8

Wash your hands-it just makes sense
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8AKTACyiB0&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=Iw
AR18yj3DIzhJG7O14SIGFtjfFHNAnQCq
PolfgzBh6EcYG9R1NEExguMj1yo