The corona-monster

[Britishgurl123]

I've told my 2 year old that there's a corona-monster outside, and he's the one stopping us from seeing family, friends and going to the park etc. And that once the bad corona-monster has gone away than we can go and do all these things again.
How did you guys explain this all to the very little ones?

[PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock]

As to how to undo it just say you were mistaken. Parents make mistakes and think silly things sometimes too. Because its was so new and so tiny, no one knew exactly what it was and how it looked like.

However, scientists have worked really hard and figured out it's a virus like the cold and flu and there's no monster. Then build on that.

[Howmanysleepsnow]

I’ve always explained stuff with the real words. I think they’d have as many questions about a monster as about a germ, and it’d be no less scary!
Maybe one way to backtrack is to explain that the corona monster isn’t a normal monster, it’s a teeny tiny one called a germ. Germs don’t chase people or try to eat them, but if they get into your body they can make you ill. Most people get better, but some people (like very old people) might get very poorly. The germs spread from person to person so we need to keep a safe distance for now. Cleaning with soap can kill germs before they get in your body, so we have to wash hands extra carefully.

[EatShitBoswell]

I couldn't agree more with Worra. Way to completely terrorise your child in a way that will a long time to undo. I think it's awful actually.

Ok but how does it help anyone to make OP feel like a shit parent for making a mistake.
My dad died when DS was 3 and they adored eachother so I had planned out how to explain death to him in the right way and thought I had it all worked out but when it came to it I was completely crap and I probably left him much more confused than I'd planned. So all I could do was leave the conversation open and make it clear that sometimes it's difficult to describe things and mums don't always have all the answers but it's always ok to ask questions.

Anyway, I think @PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock has some good advice OP

[EatShitBoswell]

Oops, the first part of that should've been quoted! I was responding to @YgritteSnow

[YgritteSnow]

I think I just had a knee jerk reaction to it having been brought up on the monster in the cellar to keep me away from the cellar stairs. I remember how terrified I was for years. I've just always disliked the creation of monsters to deter children. But you're right it's not particularly constructive to say it. There's good advice on here, I hope OP and other monster using parents take it.

[bookworm14]

Monsters? Decorating? Good grief. We’ve just told our four year old a basic version of the truth.

[EatShitBoswell]

having been brought up on the monster in the cellar to keep me away from the cellar stairs.

That's really sad! I would agree that systematically creating monsters to scare your child into behaving the way you want them to would be awful. I think OP feels guilty already so I don't think she'll be using the monster thing again 😉

[ChainsawBear]

DS had been told at school about handwashing and not hugging people who aren't your family and the words "Coronavirus", and my philosophy has always been that you should tell children the truth, adapted for them to understand. We told him that there is a bug, so tiny it's invisible, like the one that gives you the cold, and it makes you a bit sick but then it gets better. We told him it's not bad for children or mummies and daddies but it can be bad for people who are already a bit sick or older like Nana and grandad so we're all staying at home for a bit to protect them. That went fine. He's interested in viruses and bacteria so we showed him a picture of the virus.

I'm with PP - tell him you were wrong about the monster and it's tiny germs/virus. They don't need to be protected from everything - in fact, that's how you end up feeding a child's anxiety - but inventing monsters instead of the plain truth is silly.

[Bellesavage]

No need to tell a child that age anything. If they want to go out just say no, not today. No need to explain about coronavirus at all!

[JassyRadlett]

I tell her it's a teeny tiny bug that makes you poorly, too small to be seen, and that if she got it she would be fine and so would we (you never know, but it's meant to reassure her), however, if we get it and then give it to someone very old or sick, then they can get super ill, so we're doing it to protect others.

Yep, we’re doing this - it’s Staying Home Superheroes here, we’re protecting other people by staying home and not doing all the things we usually like to do; it’s a really important job and people who are old or poorly really need us to be their protectors.

It seems to be working well, and I like it because it’s reinforcing the importance of altruism.

[ofwarren]

Jassy that's a really great way of explaining it.

[PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock]

No need to explain about coronavirus at all!

Why not?

[bookworm14]

My daughter found this video helpful. It wouldn’t work for two year olds, obviously, but I’d say it was suitable for four and up. m.youtube.com/watch?v=5DlOGKpMNs4

[JassyRadlett]

To be fair @ofwarren as we were walking down the street yesterday past closed playground and cafe, 4yo did have a massive grump about still being a Staying Home Superhero and he’d rather be Flash or Thor....

[BasilDiffuser]

@bookworm14 with all respects there is a great deal of difference between 4 and 2 (my daughter only turned 3 last week).

[LilacTree1]

Monster needs to be undone

My sister had night terrors for years after thinking there were monsters outside.

[ballsdeep]

That would scare the ever loving Jesus out of my three year old!! Why would you want to make monsters real? I bet they'll be scared to go outside

[sonypony]

I showed them the clip of Boris saying we have to stay at home and left the blame firmly with him.

[PennyArrowBar]

I showed them the clip of Boris saying we have to stay at home and left the blame firmly with him

We also blamed Boris, it's his fault.

[justanotherneighinparadise]

My four year old just understands it but I’ve never babied it up for him. He heard me telling my seven year old and they get it’s passed by germs. That we are staying inside at the moment because they don’t want lots of people to catch it at the same time. And that in the future they’ll be medicine and/or a vaccine that will help.

They’re not scared and understand its annoying but we need to wait basically. Plus i tell them life will slowly go back to normal which gives them something to look forward to.

[EllaAlright]

My youngest ds is 3 next month, I haven’t said anything to him at all about it, he hasn’t asked, even though he’s not going to nursery. He’s quite happy to be at home with us and playing in the garden. And he is also a very outgoing and lively child.

It’s ok for toddlers not to be told everything.

[EstherMumsnet]

We hope you don't mind but we're moving this to the coronavirus thread now

[Derbygerbil]

Was horrified when you wrote you’d told your daughter there was a corona-monster outside... at 2 she’s probably too young to be properly scared by it, and it sounds like you realise it was a
bad idea - but we’ve all done stuff we regret when parenting and no one is perfect. Please don’t do it again ... fear of monsters will escalate when they’re 3 or 4.