How to Talk to your Child about Covid-19

Few weeks back, tinanong ko anak ko kung ano alam niya sa nangyayari ngayon.

I had to ask kung hanggang saan yung alam niya and siyempre maliit lang kasi bahay namin so kung manonood ng news eh maririnig at makikita niya talaga.

She told me na may virus daw. Marami nagkakasakit and she is scared.

So as a parent, it is our obligation to let our child know what is really happening sa level na maiintindihan niya.

We limit ourselves in watching the news. Mas naging maingat kami sa mga information na mababasa at maririnig niya kasi ayoko naman na matatakot siya and mag-aalala siya. Bilang ako naman yung lagi niyang kasama, I have to answer her questions in a simplest manner. And yes, marami siyang tanong Lagi yan, before kami matulog. Para iwas fake news din, it's better na yung info na malalaman niya eh manggagaling sa 'min. It's like, we watch the news, we filter it for the kids especially since my daughter is only 9. Hindi ako basta basta naniniwala sa mga shared posts sa social media. Kaya mga mamshie, let's be responsible din sa mga nababasa at naririnig natin.

We taught her din kung ano pwede niya magawa para makaiwas sa virus like frequent hand washing, taking her vitamins and getting lots of sleep.

Let's not underestimate our children. They know kung worried or takot tayo. Kaya when I am explaining those things to her, I try to be as calm as possible. Kahit na deep inside worried talaga ko.

Kids worry kapag blinded sila sa mga nangyayari so we need to be honest and open to them. Wag tayong matakot na pag-usapan ang coronavirus with our children pero not to the point din na we will bombard them with information. That's why we have to assess kung hanggang saan ang alam nila. Mas maganda if the questions came from them rather than feeding them with info na di nila kailangan. Okay lang din kung di natin masagot lahat as long as we assure our kids that we are here for them. <3