Experts share their tips to help kids navigate the coronavirus pandemic.
Best Ways to Help Kids Through the Pandemic
FRIDAY, May 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- They're not at school. They miss their friends. And Mom and Dad look worried. Lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic can take a toll on everyone, especially kids.
Most children are aware of what's going on at some level, said Dr. David Schonfeld, director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
Even toddlers pick up on their parents' anxiousness and changes in the family's schedule.
To help your children manage their feelings, you can ask what they understand and what concerns them.
"If a parent is worried about what's happening, the children can pick up on that. I advise people not to hide it," Schonfeld said in a hospital news release. "Children want adults to be authentic and genuine and honest."
Adults who can talk with kids about how to cope with these events will be teaching them skills that will help them face future adversity, he said.
But parents should keep some worries to themselves, such as concerns about money, Schonfeld said.