This conversations may be difficult, but they are important. There is no “right” or “wrong” way of talking to children about this pandemic, but here are some suggestions that may prove useful: Accept that, just as for you, the current moment in children also triggers a whirlwind of emotions, difficult to perceive and accommodate. Remember that your manifestations may be different. Provide an open and supportive environment for the child to ask their questions. Do not force your child to speak if he is not ready! Provide clear, succinct and honest information. Answer questions with language adapted to the age and stage of development. Don't make unrealistic promises. Children usually know or end up finding out if adults tell them things that don't correspond to reality. Children need to trust their reference adults. Be prepared to repeat information and explain it several times. Questioning the same things over and over again can be a way for the child to look for a guarantee that the information is true. Listen and validate your thoughts and emotions: "I can see you are worried" or "I understand how you are feeling in this situation". Reassure and transmit security: “you can talk to me whenever you want”, “we are safe at home”, “to feel better: we will breathe slowly, I will do it with you” or “we will do an activity together”. Create play times, free, structured or with family. Playing allows children to express their fears, understand feelings and learn to deal with new situations. Children tend to personalize, so it is natural that their fears and concerns are related to their own well-being, that of their family and friends. Tell the child that there are many professionals who are helping affected people. It is a good opportunity to show children that when something scary happens, there are people who help. Avoid continuous repetition of images and content from television and other media. These can be disturbing and confusing for the child. Children who have experienced situations of loss in the past will be particularly vulnerable, so you should provide them with support and extra attention. Be attentive and seek help from specialist professionals if there are recurrent disturbances in behavior and / or sleep (for example, nightmares, night terrors), persistent and exacerbated thoughts and fears about illness or death. Remember that, despite the concerns of adults, most children just want to remain a child. Reference Fassler D (2020). Talking to children about coronavirus. American Academy of children & Adolescent Psychiatry . Retrieved on 20/03/2020. Authors: Center for Neurodevelopment and Behavior of Children and Adolescents at Hospital da Luz Lisboa, 2020 Click here for more information and advice of Hospital da Luz about the novel coronavírus COVID-19 epidemic . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
