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Covid

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Original poster

What are you telling young kids?

19 replies

namechange63524 · 09/03/2021 12:46

So I said to my school DC (R and Y1), are you excited to go to school again today? They both pretty much said no and that they prefer being at home as it's more fun. I said but what about all your friends that you've missed? They asked why they couldn't come and play with them at home instead. I said well, we have to wait a little bit longer until the virus disappears a bit more. They then asked why they could play with them at school but not at home. We were at gates by then, but I know they'll ask again. What age appropriate answer can I give them that's not a blatant lie? Any tips?

OP posts:

Januaryissodull · 09/03/2021 13:21

My dc of a similar age just seems to have accepted that there are certain things we cannot do because it might spread Coronavirus.

All explained in very simple terms, that there is a bug that can make some people very sick, scientists have worked very hard to find a medicine for it.

If he asked why he could play with friends at school but not at home I'd just say because you have to go to school to learn.

TheOneWithTheBigNose · 09/03/2021 13:25

Mine are the same age and I’ve just told them the truth. These are the current rules in place. For you to go back to school (which is very important), social contact has to be limited elsewhere so the risk is lower. Why would you need to lie?

MotorwayDiva · 09/03/2021 13:29

I told reception aged child some places have managed to keep covid out, we had to do this last year as her dad was going to work still and she was worried. When school opened we said they had made a deal with covid that it would stay away if they washed hands.
It's still in my office though so I have to stay home...

Aimee1987 · 09/03/2021 13:43

@TheOneWithTheBigNose

DSS is slightly older (8) we have explained that it's a balance. That the disease is really bad for some people like granny and grandad. It's the job of everyone to try and reduce the disease spreading to protect them. We are allowed to open up some things slowly like schools because school is so important but other things like play dates are not as important so we dont get to do them right now. Hopefully we will be able to have friends over to the garden soon.

TheOneWithTheBigNose · 09/03/2021 13:52

@MotorwayDiva

I told reception aged child some places have managed to keep covid out, we had to do this last year as her dad was going to work still and she was worried. When school opened we said they had made a deal with covid that it would stay away if they washed hands. It's still in my office though so I have to stay home...

What would you say though if they had a positive case in the class? My reception aged child had to isolate in November due to a positive case in their class. I just told her someone had tested positive and she had to stay at home in case she had caught it, but it was very unlikely.

rainbowunicorn · 09/03/2021 14:02

I never understand why people can't just tell children the truth in an age appropriate way.
What do you achieve by making up half truths other than confusing things further for them?

Just explain that they need to go to school to learn and that means that they can see their friends however we can't all be mixing in each others houses just yet as the more we meet others the more chance of covid being passed on.

TheOneWithTheBigNose · 09/03/2021 14:15

@rainbowunicorn

I never understand why people can't just tell children the truth in an age appropriate way. What do you achieve by making up half truths other than confusing things further for them?

Same.

Luckyrabbitfoot · 09/03/2021 16:24

@MotorwayDiva

I told reception aged child some places have managed to keep covid out, we had to do this last year as her dad was going to work still and she was worried. When school opened we said they had made a deal with covid that it would stay away if they washed hands. It's still in my office though so I have to stay home...

I know you mean well, but that is absolutely ridiculous. She is 4/5, not 2. What happens when someone at school gets it?

joanneg36 · 09/03/2021 16:26

My personal view is there is no good reason why they can play at school but not have friends from their bubble over. It's an utterly illogical and pointless rule - doubly so now that a third of the population has been vaccinated. So I would let them have friends from their bubble over.

joanneg36 · 09/03/2021 16:28

I don't think telling children that you use some judgement as a parent to question things is a problem or going to lead to the end of the world/all rules. I somehow grew up understanding that my parents were good, moral, law-abiding people who occasionally used their judgement and drove at 72 mph on the motorway. Or taped something off the radio (reference that will only be understood by people of a certain age!)

OldRailer · 09/03/2021 16:28

The more we mix indoors the more chance we have too many people being ill at the same time.

It's very important for vhildren to get an education and for most the place to do this is at school. So school comes first before playing together indoors can happen.

Oly4 · 09/03/2021 16:33

I’ve told mine the truth. Same age. They asked a few questions and weren’t remotely scared

HolmeH · 09/03/2021 16:51

Mine is 3 & I’ve been age appropriately truthful. I’ve said there are nasty germs that could make her grandparents very poorly & we don’t want to do that. I’ve said it’s safer for us to play with Granny outside at the moment & she’s fine with that. My parents are actually in a bubble with us because we have a baby but we are keeping mostly outdoors for now.

My 3 year old also knows that people are getting vaccines to make everyone much more protected from getting poorly & she takes great delight in seeing the cars queuing for a local vaccine hub!

I’ve said that hopefully soon, things will be a better & we’ll be able to go indoors to do things and visit her grandparents & family who live away from us. She knows her cousins have gone back to school this week as learning things is really good & important. She knows she’s continued to go to pre-school because mummy & daddy work and it’s a place to learn new things & be happy with friends which we can’t do anywhere else at the moment!

She’s not scared or worried. She’s just accepted it. I’ve actually been really proud of her resilience recently! Lockdown one was extremely tough on her (coupled with a new baby sister) but this winter she’s been a hero!

MrTumblesSpottyHag · 09/03/2021 18:00

My y1 child knows that the rules are there to keep everyone safe. Coronavirus can be dangerous for some people so we all need to follow the rules until they change.

Powerof4 · 09/03/2021 19:54

I told my YR child we have to be very careful until the number of people with coronavirus goes down. School is important and fewer people have coronavirus so she can now go back BUT we need to keep being careful to make sure more people don’t start catching it again. Scientists have worked very hard to produce a vaccine and more and more people are being vaccinated so hopefully we can swim and have play dates soon.

Alfaix · 09/03/2021 21:02

“Boris says” is what we say. When Boris says we can see friends we’ll be so happy etc.
I have no problem with DS having a hatred of Boris.

Aimee1987 · 10/03/2021 12:42

@Alfaix

“Boris says” is what we say. When Boris says we can see friends we’ll be so happy etc. I have no problem with DS having a hatred of Boris.

I like this. True while completly defleting blame.

Thurlow · 10/03/2021 13:59

Always the truth.

My 4yo asked last night when coronavirus was going to go away. I told him that it wasn't, but that the doctors had made a new medicine which should stop people getting too poorly from it, and soon we should be allowed to see more people again because more and more people are getting this medicine. But that he doesn't need it, and he can't get poorly from it.

My 9yo understands that it's two steps forward, one step back at the moment and that while things look good, we still have to see what the numbers are doing and take things carefully.

You don't have to terrify them, but sugar coating it or just lying to them isn't good either.

BogRollBOGOF · 10/03/2021 17:40

@Alfaix

“Boris says” is what we say. When Boris says we can see friends we’ll be so happy etc. I have no problem with DS having a hatred of Boris.

On a similar vein, I blame the government when a new layer of restrictions come in so things like sports/ school have to stop again. Mine are a bit older. I'm honest about rates going up/ down and how what we're allowed to do affects spread. That the worry is for older people and people who are likely to be very poorly and that most people just find it like a normal illness.

One of the DC's birthday's is coming up just after one of the release dates. I've booked the attraction he wants to go to, and told him but that it is subject to the government letting it open on time. He needs to know that I'm doing what I can, especially as it was a full lockdown birthday last year (and have not been able to honour my promise of last year's party yet), but that it is not guarenteed.

It's best to keep answers as honest as possible with the right level of simplicity/ detail for the child's needs.

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