
Talking to children about COVID-19 and what to expect going forward is critically important and would be a current priority for all parents and families. Kensington Montessori will be working in partnership (families and educators together) which is important at this time. Our practices and protocols will be in place to communicate with families around other sensitive issues.
If any of the parents may prefer the educators not to talk with children about the virus please communicate with the director.
What we talk about when we talk about COVID-19?
For this sensitive topic, we don’t believe that any one generic resource can work for all children. Instead, we encourage careful, child-led conversations. Below we share information to guide age and context-appropriate conversations.
Every parent knows the personalities of their children, especially how they react to changing circumstances. The coming months will be a test of the resilience of all of our community, not just our children. Each child or age group will have their own level of awareness and it is important to answer their questions honestly so they have the level of reassurance they may need. Provide enough information to explain, without providing too much information to cause undue stress or anxiety. Recognise too that some children may need more or less information than others. Children might find it difficult to understand what they are seeing online or on TV – or hearing from other people – so they can be particularly vulnerable to feelings of anxiety, stress and sadness. But having an open, supportive discussion with your children can help them understand, cope and even make a positive contribution for others.
The goal is to educate, without causing anxiety, and to ensure that your child is aware of what they need to do to stay healthy
Ask open questions and listen
Start by inviting your child to talk about the issue. Find out how much they already know and follow their lead. If they are particularly young and haven’t already heard about the outbreak, you may not need to raise the issue – just take the chance to remind them about good hygiene practices without introducing new fears. Make sure you are in a safe environment and allow your child to talk freely. Drawing, stories and other activities may help to open up a discussion. Be sure to acknowledge their feelings and assure them that it’s natural to feel scared about these things. Demonstrate that you’re listening by giving them your full attention, and make sure they understand that they can talk to you and their teachers whenever they like.
Maintain regular routines and rituals where possible
Routines and rituals are important to maintain at this time such as singing the same funny song when washing hands or reading a favourite story at rest time can create an emotional connection and relieve anxiety. Give children as much notice as possible about changes to routines and environments, and have realistic expectations of them during this time. You may want to create a simple story similar to Manuela Molina’s Coronavirus Story.
Manuela Molina’s Coronavirus Story to explain that germs can make people sick, but that when you wash your hands, you can help everyone stay healthy. Where possible, allow your child to maintain as much normality as possible, and provide plenty of opportunities for play.
Help regulate emotions
Keep building strong relationships with children as much as possible during this time, as the complex relationship-based work you do is incredibly important. You are well-placed as an educator to help children navigate and explore their emotions and help them self-regulate.
Use play
Keep being interested and supportive of children’s play – it helps them to feel connected, valued and accepted. Having fun together during play time enables children to experience pleasure and joy. Play also helps children to express and work through their feelings, even before they have the words to say how they feel.
Look for changes in behavior
Children who may be feeling overwhelmed by stress or anxiety could be tired, withdrawn, irritable, fearful, unmotivated, moody, lose their appetite, need more comfort, have trouble concentrating and feel physically unwell. If you think a child in our care needs extra support, consult with the director or the lead educator at your early learning service.
Make Hygiene Fun
Show your child how good hygiene practices can help protect them from coronavirus and other illnesses. Make it fun by singing along to ‘Hand Washing Song’
Encourage your child to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ or the ‘ABC Song’ when they wash their hands to ensure they wash their hands for a sufficient period of time. It’s also a good idea to remind your child that picking their nose is a no-no and that they should try to avoid touching their face.
Give your child specific things they can do to feel in control
Teach kids that getting lots of sleep and washing their hands well and often can help them stay strong and well. Explain that regular hand washing also helps stop viruses from spreading to others. Be a good role model and let your kids see you washing your hands often!
Speak calmly and reassuringly
Explain that most people who get sick feel like they have a cold or the flu. Children pick up on it when parents worry. So when you talk about coronavirus and the news, use a calm voice and try not to seem upset.
Give your children space to share their fears
It's natural for kids to worry, "Could I be next? Could that happen to me?" Let your child know that children don't seem to get as sick as adults. Let them know they can always come to you for answers or to talk about what scares them.
For very young children from birth to two
A simple reminder to wash their hands may be all that is needed. Some parents may choose to verbalise changes and social distancing measures by saying things such as ‘there are some illnesses about and so we can’t see your grandparents, we can phone them or connect via facetime or video until everyone is healthy again’. Likewise, why hygiene measures are in place can be useful: ‘there are some illnesses about and so we need to wash our toys or wipe this trolley before we use it’. Use songs and games and as always with children of any age, but especially pre-verbal children, an adult’s calm and reassuring tone, builds feelings of security and safety.
Some very young children may demonstrate changes in behaviour at this time (eg seeking handwashing or wiping more frequently). Being aware of this and responding calmly is most effective. Adopting a calm manner can be helpful for settling adult anxiety too.
For two- to three-year-old children
For this age group, simple yet factual explanations are particularly important, even if they are unable to completely understand. For example, an educator explained ‘Germs are tiny things, so tiny we can’t see them with our eyes—but they can make us sick. We have to take extra care to wash our hands so we wash off the germs before we play/eat/go home’. Again, explaining simple hygiene is something that many early childhood educators do well and reminding children of these is vital. Some parents at this stage may choose to outline that there is a specific ‘germ or virus people are worried about at the moment. This virus can make some people (such as grandparents) very sick and so we need to take extra care’.
For children aged four to six years
At this age more scientific information is often appropriate. Depending on a child’s understanding you could build on the explanation for toddlers by adding more detail. This age is a time for questions and children may be asking questions such as ‘Why are people wearing masks?’ A virus is an abstract concept and may be hard for children to understand, but you could include simple experiments to help explain (e.g. the water and cinnamon/pepper experiment where soap helps repel the particles/germs—
see here -
At this age you could specifically talk about the corona virus: ‘something so tiny we need a powerful microscope to see’. Or you can explain that the corona virus is named after its shape—with corona being linked to the word crown. Children at this age who are watching the news may seek additional information, which is why speaking honestly about this is important, even when you’re unsure.
See below for more helpful resources about how to talk to children about Coronavirus.
Websites of international organisations like UNICEF and the World Health Organisation are great sources of information.
The World Health Organization has developed a flyer :
Helping children cope with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak
Raising Children website has information that families can access.
StartingBlocks.gov.au on its website have some amazing resources.
Resources and strategies for helping children and young people achieve their best possible mental health. https://beyou.edu.au/
World Health Organisation – Helping children cope with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak
Australian Psychological Society – Tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety
Australian Red Cross – Talking to children and young people about COVID-19
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/coronavirus-how-talk-child.html
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