COVID-19: Tips & Resources
Talking to Children
Remain calm. Remember that children will react to both what you say and how you say it. They will pick up cues from the conversations you have with them and with others.
Reassure children that they are safe. Let them know it is okay if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
Make yourself available to listen and to talk. Let children know they can come to you when they have questions.
Avoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma.
Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio, or online. Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on COVID-19. Too much information on one topic can lead to anxiety.
Provide information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental level of the child. Talk to children about how some stories on COVID-19 on the Internet and social media may be based on rumors and inaccurate information. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs. Remind children to wash their hands frequently and stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing or sick. Also, remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, then throw the tissue into the trash.
If school is open, discuss any new actions that may be taken at school to help protect children and school staff.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
For General Questions & Updated Information Regarding COVID-19
Call 211: Maine’s Health and Human Services Information & Referral System
This resource is also located beneath the Relationship-Building Tab.
Search Institute’s research is demonstrating that when young people experience developmental relationships with parents, educators, youth program staff, and other adults their outcomes are better, their risk behaviors are lower, and they are more likely to be on the path to thrive in life. Staff in schools and youth programs do not need to and should not stop seeking to build developmental relationships with young people while they are at home during the nation’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Every time you take one of the relationship-building steps below in the critical weeks ahead, place a check next to it and know that you have made a valuable contribution to helping young people weather this storm.