How do you talk to your children about this?

[MashedPotatoBrainz]

We haven't really talked about this with DS(6) beyond telling him about how important it is to wash his hands. But still he came to me yesterday and said he was really scared and when I asked why he said because of the virus because he doesn't want everyone to die.

How do we explain this to our young kids? Especially when schools inevitably close. And how he can't go to activities for the foreseeable? How do I explain that mummy and daddy and his big sister are all high risk without scaring him stupid?

How are you talking to yours?

I’d start by watching the fun videos and tweets (Vietnam hand washing song, the hamster one, and the Chicago penguins).

Then explain that it’s a very unusual situation and mum and dad are doing everything to keep him safe. That things are going to change for a while, and perhaps people will be a bit irritated or cross, but that’s because everyone likes to have a routine, and right now we don’t have one as it’s all so new.

But on the plus side, they will get more screen time for homework! And we can learn how to cook/garden/NATO alphabet/do jigsaw puzzles (delete as appropriate) as mum and dad will spend more time at home.

Also explain that we will likely get it, it will be unpleasant for a few days but then we’ll get better and recover.