Your child may ask you, why aren't we going to school? And what is coronavirus? It is important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to deal with difficult situations. If parents appear anxious, children's anxiety may increase. Parents should reassure children that health and school officials are working to ensure people's health. However, children also need age-appropriate information and facts about the seriousness of the potential infection and concrete instructions on how to avoid infection and the spread of the disease. Teaching children to take positive preventive measures and talking to them about their fears can help them ease anxiety.

Specific Guidelines

Stay Calm and Reassuring

1. Children will react to and follow your verbal and non-verbal reactions.

2. What you say and do regarding COVID-19, current prevention efforts, and related events can increase or decrease your children's anxiety level.

3. If true, reassure your children that they and your family are fine.

4. Let your children talk about their feelings, and help them reframe their anxiety into the proper perspective.

Understand Your Child Well

1. Children may need extra attention from you and may want to talk about their anxiety, fears, and questions.

2. It is important that they know someone is listening to them; dedicate time to them.

3. Tell them that you love them and give them plenty of affection.

Control Television and Social Media Viewing

1. Limit watching television or accessing information online or through social media. Try to avoid watching or listening to distressing information when your children are present.

2. Talk to your child about the amount of stories about COVID-19 on the internet that may be based on rumors and inaccurate information.

3. Talk to your child about the facts regarding this virus — this can help reduce anxiety.

4. Constantly watching COVID-19 updates can lead to increased anxiety, so avoid that.

5. Be aware that some information is directed at adults and can cause anxiety or confusion, especially for children.

6. Engage your child in games or other interesting activities instead.

Speak in Simple, Understandable Language

1. Do not dismiss their fears; rather, explain that at the current time very few people are infected with COVID-19.

2. Children can be told that this disease spreads between people who are in close contact with each other — when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

3. It is also believed that it can spread when you touch a contaminated surface or object, which is why it is very important to protect yourself.

4. To obtain additional accurate information, follow the competent authorities such as the Ministry of Health.

Engage with Your Child in a Concrete and Practical Way

1. Encourage your child to practice good hygiene every day — simple steps to prevent the spread of the disease:

2. Wash your hands several times a day for at least 40 seconds (a song can be sung to count 40 seconds).

3. Cover their mouths with a tissue when sneezing or coughing and throw the tissue away immediately, or guide them to sneeze or cough into their elbow. Do not share food or drinks.

4. Practice greeting with a fist bump or elbow bump instead of handshakes. Germs spread less this way.

5. Giving children guidance on what they can do to prevent infection gives them a greater sense of control over the spread of the disease and helps reduce their anxiety.

6. Encourage your child to eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly; this helps them strengthen their immunity to fight the disease.

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Originally published in Arabic. This English version was produced with AI-assisted translation; the Arabic original remains the reference.