How to communicate with children about coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

As the spread of COVID-19 is causing ripples, people around the world have started taking precautions to protect themselves, their families and communities from the deadly disease. However, it doesn’t limit here; it is essential that children continue on their journey to learning and enable them to strive in an environment that is not only welcoming but also inclusive, respectful and supportive to everyone. And, it is of no surprise that schools and teachers play a huge role in it. 

Children pick things quickly and easily, but it is important that they pick on the right information. As conversations around the deadly disease increase, there are chances children may start worrying about themselves. However, parents and teachers can play a vital role to help children make sense of what they hear is a way that is accurate and gets rid of any fear. Moreover, it is essential to pay attention to what media children are exposed to and what they hear on see online or on television. 

Sharing accurate science-based facts and information about COVID-19 will help to diminish fear in students and combat anxieties around the disease, further, it can also support their ability to cope with other secondary impacts in their lives. 

Here are some ways teachers can engage with students that go to playschool in India to talk about coronavirus disease:

- Focus on communicating good health behaviors including covering the mouth while coughing, sneezing with the elbow and washing hands.

- Encourage children to wash hands regularly at least for 20 seconds and the conversation need not be a scary one, and hence you can sing or dance along to make the whole experience fun. 

- Parents and teachers should be aware of how they talk about COVID-19. The discusión can increase or decrease the kid’s fear. 

- Develop a way to track how often children are washing their hands and further find ways to reward them for frequent handwashing.  

- Use puppets, engaging videos or other fun material to demonstrate symptoms, what to do if children feel sick whether it is their head that hurt or the stomach. Cultivating empathy and safe, caring behaviors is the key. 

- Have children sit farther apart from one another by practicing stretching of the arms or flapping their wings. This will keep enough space between each other and ensure social distancing is done right. 

Education and knowledge should not be all about information and facts for your young children. It is vital to ensure that there is a dash of fun while imparting knowledge about the current situation. Further, integrating a fun element in the early education program helps children to develop their skills and talents. And that is precisely what the leading preschool in India, Kidzee provides with an all-new learning app. It is exclusively and carefully designed by the best academicians for kids keeping age-specific requirements in mind of young minds at the center. 

With the outbreak of coronavirus disease, it is essential to give examples to the children about the steps to be made every day to stop germs and stay healthy. While doing so, adults can also help children engage in online learning apps not just to keep them distracted from the conversations around the disease but also to inspire creative thinking.