Talking to kids about coronavirus is a tricky thing. How much should we tell them? Here are some resources for parents of young children, aged from two to six (and one podcast for older kids) that can help you find the right words, and allow your child the space to ask questions that might be worrying them.
Talking to kids about coronavirus: Songs, shows and experiments to help
1. The Wiggles, ‘Social Distancing’ song
Talking to kids about coronavirus is simple with The Wiggles! The team have come together to help kids understand social distancing and why they can’t visit Nanna’s place. The song touches on video calling, safe social distance and other new concepts that kids might be struggling to understand. Kids learning about germs and hand washing might also like these 7 fun & catchy “Wash Your Hands” songs for kids.
2. Play School Special Episode: Hello Friends! (A COVID-19 Special)
3. Science Experiment: COVID-19 Germs Experiment
Here’s a fun experiment to do with your kids to explain the importance of washing our hands amid the coronavirus pandemic. The simple setup sees pepper acting as ‘germs’ and ‘running away’ from the soap. See for yourself:
4. Printable, interactive story about COVID-19
This story from MindHeartKids introduces them to coronavirus as a character and explains the role we play in keeping safe. The book includes sections in a worksheet-style so kids can fill out sections about how they’re feeling and who will keep them safe. You can download and print the PDF here.
5. Poster to Print: Bluey’s Handwashing Helper
Bluey (and Bingo, of course!) stars in this fun hand-washing guide for children, using the traditional children’s song from the Butterfly episode.
The poster is a fun way to remind little ones about hand hygiene, without worrying them unnecessarily.
6. ABC 7:30 Report Messages to Nanny
Normalise the experience of missing your Nan by watching these messages from families around Australia to their grandparents. You can record your own and send it in to the ABC, or even just record a new message a day for family members you miss.
Children send their love to isolated and distant grandparents
In a time when coronavirus means that grandparents and grandchildren can't always spend time with each other.At 7.30 we've been inundated with children reaching out through video to send their love to distant and isolated grandparents.Here are just some of them. And we'll bring you more next week.
Posted by 7.30 on Wednesday, April 1, 2020
7. Podcast: Coronacast
This daily podcast from Dr Norman Swan and health reporter Tegan Taylor is a measured take on the COVID-19 crisis for adult, but features an episode dedicated to answering kids questions, as submitted by the kids themselves. Best for older listeners, from perhaps ten years old, we recommend a pre-listen to the episode to check you’re comfortable with the content, which covers illness and questions from kids worried about people dying from COVID-19. You can download the podcast here, or go straight to the children’s episode here.