How Do I Explain a Pandemic to Young Children?
All of the recommendations below apply to children in early childhood education (up to approximately 6 years old, depending on their level of maturity). For older age groups, the approach should be adapted to their developmental stage to allow them to learn and grow appropriately for their age.
Media coverage and public alarm sometimes force parents and educators into explaining things we never imagined having to discuss with young children. It is not as daunting as it seems—you just need to keep your priorities clear.
Is Coronavirus a Tiny Bug with a Crown?
In recent times, it seems like COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) is the only topic being discussed: in the media, on the streets, within families, in schools, and even in preschool classrooms.
It might not seem like the most appropriate topic to discuss, but sometimes children bring it up themselves because they feel anxious about the atmosphere around them and need to express themselves. How can we address this situation from an educational standpoint? The best approach is to address the topic simply, clearly, and without excessive detail, in a way that protects the rights of the children in our care—especially their rights to health and protection.
Protect Children’s Emotional Well-Being
Conversations at home and constant media exposure regarding COVID-19 can cause uncertainty, worry, distress, and stress in young children.
Here are a few tips to help reduce tension in little ones and safeguard their emotional well-being:
- Explain the situation in clear, simple language. Be honest and speak truthfully in a gentle manner. To do this, it is important to stay well-informed, explain what a pandemic is, discuss how it affects their daily lives, and emphasize the importance of taking certain precautions to reduce the risk of infection.
- Pay close attention to them. Children react to stress in different ways: some may want to stay closer to you out of fear, while others may become more nervous, withdrawn, angry, or agitated depending on their personality, and some may even experience regressions like bedwetting. In light of this, be mindful of their need for extra attention. Avoid treating them with indifference; empathize with their concerns, listen to them, and offer calm and reassurance.
- Protect their emotions. The most important step is to listen to their concerns with your full attention. Validate their emotions and reassure them that what they are feeling is normal. Be more understanding and patient, create spaces for relaxation, and share leisure activities so they can forget the tension around them.
- Keep them connected with family and friends. Children should remain close to family and close friends. If physical separation is necessary (for instance, to protect the health of grandparents or friends), ensure they maintain regular contact through other means, such as phone calls or video chats.
- Establish new routines and regular schedules. Although maintaining routines during isolation can be challenging, keeping certain habits is essential. For example, dress in comfortable clothes even if staying indoors, dedicate specific times for learning and guided schoolwork, and join them during recreational activities.
- Filter information sources. As parents, it is our duty to protect children from information that could confuse them or contribute to anxiety and fear. We can lower household anxiety by limiting young children’s exposure to news reports. Explain that not everything on the internet is accurate, and encourage them to trust information from experts and official sources, such as the resources provided by Centro Médico ABC at centromedicoabc.com/coronavirus.
- Make the best of a difficult situation. Help them see that even during challenging times or crises, there are new things to learn—such as making hand hygiene a fun, practical habit.
- Plan fun family activities. Set aside time for shared leisure activities (such as board games, arts and crafts, cooking together, watching movies, listening to music, organizing garden spaces or closets, dancing, playing a musical instrument, reading, or practicing breathing and relaxation techniques).
- Engage in physical activity. Exercising together daily is vital to keep spirits high. Creativity plays a big role here—you can set up a garden obstacle course, practice climbing stairs in different ways, and more.
- Instill respect for their environment. Teach them to make small contributions to household hygiene, such as building the habit of sorting trash for recycling, and learning the importance of keeping their surroundings, clothes, and dishes clean.
Protect Children’s Health
During this stage of development, it is crucial to establish foundational self-protection habits that will enable children to be responsible for their own health and the health of others throughout their lives. You do not need to provide an exhaustive explanation of disease causes and effects to begin building protective behaviors. Young children can adopt these habits early on, which also helps build their self-confidence and sense of self-efficacy:
- Handwashing with soap and water: Focus not only on teaching them how to wash their hands properly, but also on building the habit so they can apply it in different contexts (for example, washing hands right after coming home or when visiting a restaurant).
- Recognizing everyday contact with dirt: Help them identify situations where they handle dirt—such as gardening, playing with pets, or coming into contact with trash—and take appropriate precautions.
- Learning hygienic practices that protect others: Teach them how to use tissues, blow their nose properly, and avoid sharing utensils and cups.
- Building respect for their environment: Encourage them to help with domestic and classroom hygiene, throw trash away properly, and understand the importance of keeping their clothes and surroundings clean.
FAQs Regarding Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
At present, research is ongoing regarding whether viruses can be transmitted from mothers to fetuses during pregnancy, as well as the potential long-term effects on newborns. Expectant mothers should take appropriate precautions to minimize exposure and seek medical attention promptly if they experience symptoms such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
Is it safe for a mother with Coronavirus to breastfeed her baby?
If a mother experiences symptoms but feels well enough to nurse, she should wear a face mask whenever she is near the baby (including while breastfeeding), wash her hands before and after touching the child, and regularly clean and disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated. These precautions should be strictly followed by anyone who knows or suspects they may be infected when interacting with others.
If a mother is too ill to nurse directly, expressing breast milk to feed the baby with a clean cup or spoon—while maintaining the same infection prevention measures—is recommended.
Always consult your healthcare provider if you have specific questions or concerns.
Leading by Example
At any age, but especially with young children, teaching handwashing is ineffective if they do not see us doing it regularly. Similarly, telling them to stay calm will have little impact if they sense our anxiety, and scolding them for using terms like "coronavirus" is counterproductive if they hear adults making jokes they cannot yet understand.
At a developmental stage where language skills are still forming, much of a child’s learning happens through imitation and emotional connection. Educating young children is a holistic effort that requires us to lead by example with empathy and care.
At the Preventive Medicine Department of Centro Médico ABC, we provide specialized care. Contact us today!
Fuentes:
Prepare su Hogar para COVID-19
Centro para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades, 2020.
Acciones frente al COVID-19
Grupo Especial de Operaciones de Salvamento, 2020.
Guía para padres sobre Coronavirus
Unicef, 2020.
