After the first coronavirus case in Turkey was reported by the Minister of Health, we started to take precautions as a society. We are researching information and taking precautions to strengthen ourselves against the coronavirus outbreak. However, how we explain this global epidemic to our children is also important. It is important for the child to be aware of the events affecting society. So why should you be aware? How should we explain? Let's take a look together.
I'm sure you've seen many posts on social media to protect yourself from the coronavirus and minimize the risk. Of course, it is important to take these precautions, but it is also important to protect children from anxiety while doing so. Not telling children anything is not a solution, and since there is uncertainty, it increases the anxiety in the child. For this reason, you should give the child information appropriate to his age, but while doing this, you should avoid giving unnecessary details by using very simple language. So, when your child hears about the coronavirus from another source, having an idea about it will make the coping process easier. You can explain what the virus is, but there is no need to give more information than your child is curious about. From time to time, children may ask very detailed questions, and if you do not know the answers to these questions, you can say, "I will research this and give you information." Do not hesitate to answer their questions, the anxiety level will decrease as the answered questions will take away the unknown in the child's mind.
You know that children are not in the risk group for coronavirus, you can share this information with your children. It will make them feel safer, but it is not right to give inaccurate information such as 'the virus cannot come to us'. Instead, you can talk about the precautions that can be taken and say that everything is fine now.
It may be more effective and descriptive to explain this situation to children under 7 years old with visuals. You can get support from cartoons, pictures and videos prepared for children, and you can look at them together and chat about the subject. While visual resources can have positive effects on children, they can also have negative effects. Keep your child away from media sources over which you have no control, as much as possible. You are. During this period, instead of watching the news in the evening, you can play a board game together as a family or organize a book reading time.
If your child has recently lost a relative and has a fear of death or an anxiety about diseases. If there is, this process may trigger their anxiety and fears. In such cases, it is useful to get support from an expert.
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