STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE

                “Home Is a Shelter From Storms - All Sorts Of Storms.”

                                                                                                - William J.Bennett

Families across the country are adapting to the evolving changes in daily life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most schools, places of public gathering, and nonessential businesses are closed, and parents and other caregivers are faced with helping their families adjust to the new normal. This includes trying to keep children occupied, feeling safe, and attempting to keep up with schoolwork as best as possible. It is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety. This is also a tremendous opportunity for adults to model for children problem-solving, flexibility, and compassion as we all work through adjustmenting daily schedules, balancing work and other activities, getting creative about how we spend time.

STAY CALM, LISTEN, AND OFFER REASSURANCE

·         Be a role model. Children will react to and follow your reactions. They learn from your example.

·         Be aware of how you talk about COVID-19.Your discussion about COVID-19 can increase or decrease your child's fear..

·         Explain social distancing. Children probably don’t fully understand why parents/guardians aren’t allowing them to be with friends. Tell your child that your family is following the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which include social distancing..

·         Demonstrate deep breathing. Deep breathing is a valuable tool for calming the nervous system. Do breathing exercises with your children.

·         Focus on the positive. Celebrate having more time to spend as a family. Make it as fun as possible. Allow older children to connect with their friends virtually.

·         Offer lots of love and affection to family members.

BE HONEST AND ACCURATE

·         Correcting  misinformation. Children often imagine situations worse than reality; therefore, offering developmentally appropriate facts can reduce fears. 

·         Explain simple safety steps. Tell your child this disease spreads between people who are in close contact with one another, when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or when one touches infected objects or surfaces.

·         Zoonotic Diseases. Coronaviruses are zoonotic diseases, meaning they spread from animals to humans.

KEEP EXPLANATIONS AGE-APPROPRIATE

Give simple examples of the steps people make every day to stop germs and stay healthy, such as washing hands. Use language such as "adults are working hard to keep you safe."

 For all children, encourage them to verbalize their thoughts and feelings. Be a good listener!

      

STAY CONNECTED TO SCHOOL

Stay in touch. Find out how the school is communicating with families and students. Be sure to read any communications you receive. Check with you children, particularly older ones, as they may be receiving information directly that would be helpful for you to know.

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