Talking to kids about Coronavirus

Contact me at: arreid@seattleschools.org or (206) 252-1535

Like everyone else, I have Coronavirus on my mind this week. I have been meeting with a number of students who are worried or scared about the virus. Please see the two attached resources to guide you in helping your children at this stressful time. The first is a comic the District already shared which is great for explaining the virus and, hopefully, reassuring kids. The second offers adults tips for helping kids through. The biggest takeaways are to help your kids keep this in perspective; give developmentally appropriate facts; turn off the news and filter the information you share with children; take reasonable measures to protect yourself and your family, but stay calm and reassure your children. Kids take their clues from us. If we panic, they will too, and they have fewer tools for managing stress. If your child seems unusually anxious, I’d be happy to check in with them at school. E-mail me at arreid@seattleschools.org.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/