Health Anxiety in Children

It can be tempting to “shield” children completely from frightening news, like the spread of coronavirus. However, it can do more harm than good to not talk about things going on in the world with your children, especially if they’ve begun to ask questions, or show concern. They may also be hearing misinformation from others, or seeing overwhelming things online. Without context, this can spiral quickly into health anxiety, fear, and worry. It is also a good opportunity to teach your child how to respond to future news stories that may incite fear. — Ally Schmidt, M.Ed.

What to Do?:

• Listen

  Provide a space for your child to talk about their concerns. Create space for their feelings.
   

• Model a Calm Response

  Model a calm and measured response, rooted in logic. This is the most helpful thing you can do!
   

• Avoid Constant Reassurance

  Reassuring a worry thought can give it more power. Providing information and modeling logical reasoning is more impactful.
   

• Provide Accurate Information

  There are several great resources online with comics, videos, and more to help explain the coronavirus to children (see below for some examples). Present information in a way that is appropriate for the child's maturity level.

2 Great Resources for Helping Kids Learn About Coronavirus:

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

https://www.brainpop.com/health/diseasesinjuriesandconditions/coronavirus/

Teaching Proper Hygiene:

As we all know, kids are not always mindful of germs spreading! So, we can take this opportunity to teach proper hand-washing techniques. We can also help kids to learn to sneeze into their elbow/tissues, and to avoid touching their faces in public spaces.

One fun way to teach hand washing to young children is to use eco-friendly glitter, or sand, to visually show them how to wash their hands properly. Explain that germs act like the glitter/sand, but we cannot see them. So, it is important to use soap and water to thoroughly wash our hands before eating, and after being in public spaces (like the restroom).

I hope these tips are helpful for talking about coronavirus with your family!

In gratitude,
Ally Schmidt, M.Ed.