You could start by asking them what they already know,and acknowledge their concerns. Children want to feel heard,and this also helps you ascertain their grasp on the situation.
Professor McDermott has a pro tip:give the most important message at the start of the conversation,and repeat the same thing at the end. It does not need to be too long. For young children this helps it sink in.
“Primary school kids want to know they are going to be OK,and their parents are going to be OK,” says Professor McDermott. “Tell them it’s not very dangerous for people who are mummy or daddy’s age.”
Volunteering extra information,even if it’s true,may not be helpful. For example,saying the death rate is much higher in people of their grandparents'age group would be anxiety-provoking.
Teens
Children in their early teens can seem mature but they are still emotionally developing. Give them comfort and talk through their concerns,particularly information they’ve heard from friends which might not be accurate.
Often they will ask the same questions repeatedly:this is not because they are after information,but because they want reassurance.
Older teenagers appreciate being treated more like adults,and will want to discuss the same information that you are processing. Try to guide them to good quality sources of information,such as evidence-based websites and reputable news sites.
If you don’t know the answer to a question it’s OK to say that and offer to find out more information,says Naomi Hackworth,a psychologist and content manager of the government-fundedRaising Children network.
“Tell them it’s OK to be worried,and say that you worry too. But it's also important to be reassuring,” she says. Ms Hackworth also recommends limiting children’s access to media about the coronavirus to reduce anxiety.
Life goes on
Where possible,it’s essential to keep life going in a normal and natural way,says Professor Robert Booy,an infectious diseases paediatrician and professor at the University of Sydney.
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Children will be better off – and their immune system will be stronger – if they have good social contact with their friends,Professor Booy says.
He recommends small gatherings,fewer than 10 people,and says parents should supervise to ensure good personal hygiene and a distance of at least 1.5 metres.
If children are too young to understand this,parents can try modelling the behaviour with them and ensuring they are wiping their noses and washing their hands.
“The modelling that has been done across a lot of countries and a lot of school systems shows that there appears to be little to be gained and something to be lost by willy-nilly keeping children home,” Professor Booy says.
He recommends meet-ups outdoors if the weather is good,and keeping the window open to allow for ventilation if play dates happen indoors.
For more information on how to talk to your children go toraisingchildren.net.au
What Victoria's state of emergency means
A state of emergency grants special powers to government authorities to protect the public in an extraordinary situation.
The Victorian government declared a four-week state of emergency from midday on Monday,March 16 using the special laws for the first time.
It will allow large areas or even suburbs and specific businesses to be isolated,and activates extraordinary powers to enforce self-isolation,prevent people from entering large venues and shut down mass gatherings.
Under this state of emergency the government can:
- Prohibit mass gatherings of more than 500 people. However,airports,schools and universities,aged care facilities,food markets,and emergency services are among the current exemptions.
- Schools exempt for now,but large gatherings such as assemblies or lectures are being restricted.
- Large public spaces needed for people to pass through such as Federation Square or Bourke Street Mall are excluded.
- Impose self-quarantine on anyone who has returned from overseas travel to any country after a specified date,though flight crews and Pacific Island citizens returning home will not need to self isolate.
- Spot checks on people in enforced self-isolation.
- Detain any person to eliminate risk to public health.
- Prevent any person or group from entering a defined emergency area.
- Impose penalties of up to $20,000 on individuals who fail to comply with a direction under the state of emergency. Body corporates can be fined up to $100,000.