As we prepare for school to begin, those of us that are sending our kiddos slowly back out into the world may find ourselves explaining what has changed (again) in the last few months. After all, we have been explaining to our children why its safest to stay at home and now, some of us are telling them they are safe back at school. Here offering us a few guideposts for talking about the coronavirus with children of different ages is our friend, Dr. Chad Brandt, a therapist who specializes in anxiety in children and teens.
How to Talk to Children about COVID-19 and School
Anxiety about COVID-19 and how it will change the world are spreading as fast as the virus itself. As parents, we feel this anxiety and so do our children. Children are naturally perceptive and will look to their parents for guidance on how to react as their world changes. You want to help your children through this of course, but how do you talk to a young child about a global pandemic? And what do you do as your child has to return to school and you return to work? I have a few tips here to help you navigate these conversations with your children:
-
- Be open and honest. Children know when we are keeping the truth from them. I would advise against telling your child that nothing is happening, or that everyone will be fine. Below are some examples of how to be open and honest with your children about coronavirus for different age groups
-
- For a younger child. I would advise a short but honest approach. "There is a sickness going around and we are trying to keep everyone safe by not getting it ourselves, and not giving it to others. We do this by staying home and only going out when we have to. We're also washing our hands more often. If we do this for a little while everyone will get a chance to get healthy and we will get to go back to playing with your friends." You can also address challenges or anxieties they may face at school: "your teacher will wear a mask to help keep you safe. If you would like, you can ask her about it. She is always there to help you."
-
- For an older child. I would advise a more in-depth strategy while keeping the facts intact. "Many people are getting sick and we are staying home to keep from spreading the virus. This virus is dangerous to some people, usually people over the age of 70. If you get sick, it's likely that it will not be a bad sickness for you. If this happens, we will take it seriously and make sure you are okay." As they return to school make sure they have a plan. Give them hand sanitizer, make a hand-washing plan, give them extra masks, practice telling others to maintain social distance, so they feel empowered to keep themselves safe at school.
-
- For teenagers and young adults. I would advise that you speak to them similarly to how you would speak to a peer. Be open and honest about your worries, the realities of the situation, and how you are moving on with your day despite the anxiety. For older children to see their parents have real emotions and overcome them is usually more meaningful than the advice itself.
-
- Do not linger! If your children have questions answer those questions honestly and move on with the conversation. If we can answer questions and then move on to other conversation topics, then we are sending them the message that generally things are okay. If we spend too much time talking about coronavirus, then we are sending the message that the threat is large. The way you convey the message to your children may mean just as much, if not more, than the message itself.
-
- Use this as a teaching moment in dealing with anxiety and change. Our children will grow up and they will experience stressors, anxieties, natural disasters, and more. Use this as an opportunity to teach them how to feel anxiety, make a reasonable plan to handle uncertainty, and move forward with their lives. If you can make a plan and continue moving forward with your day despite the pandemic you will show them how to react by example. Again, actions speak louder than words, the more you can show them that you are able to move on and accomplish your daily tasks the more likely they will be to follow suit now and in the future.
SHARE IT!

Written by: Dr. Chad Brandt
Dr. Chad Brandt is a provisionally licensed psychologist with expertise in treating anxiety-based disorders. Dr. Brandt is a father of three, husband to a loving wife, and a member of Board of Directors at A Children's House for the Soul. wwww.drchadbrandt.com
Related Posts
THANK YOU, MOM! By Rachael Wrobel
In honor of the upcoming National Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) Awareness week, we wanted to share this great piece from our friend, Rachael Wrobel about how her mama mothered her well, even despite the challenges of EB.
Alopecia Areata – A Mother’s Journey
I am fortunate enough to be Mama to three little girls. Shortly after my eldest daughter’s first birthday (about 4 years ago) I noticed her hair was thinning. I was told by many it was just typical baby hair loss until it just couldn’t be described at “typical” any longer.
Hand-washing causing dry, cracked skin? Here are some tips from our Friend, Dr. Meena!
After the last several months of this pandemic, I think we are all well-versed in how important it is to wash our hands so that we don’t spread germs. But with all this hand washing and sanitizing, dry skin, eczema breakouts, and contact dermatitis have become even more troublesome. What can we do about it?
Back to School? Think Balance. Doctor’s Orders.
Join us for a quick and very insightful video interview with Dr. Alana Kennedy-Nasser as she shares with us how to keep kids safe as they go back to school in-person and how to keep kids developmentally “on track” as they attend school virtually.
Tips From A Teacher: Parents as partners, online enrichment and more!
What questions do you have for back to school content experts? Read on for some brilliant questions and answers from this super smart teacher mama, Lacy Cunningham, M.A.Ed.
Mental Health Matters In Our New Abnormal World – Back To School Boot Camp
Online learning can be a fun experience filled with lots of great experiences; but as humans, we were meant to interact with one another and have companionship. How can we develop ways to ensure kids stay engaged while learning in a different setting?
Preparing families who are returning to in-person learning
This year, the normal first day of school jitters will likely be accompanied by some new concerns that we have not encountered before. Lindsey O’Sullivan, Child Life Specialist, provides guidance on how to navigate these conversations with your child.
Validation Conversation – Back To School Boot Camp
Validation means to acknowledge and sometimes normalize someone’s feelings or reactions to a specific scenario. Validation continues the conversation, creates trust, and helps children communicate their truest feelings with the adults around them.
Sharing our disappointment with our kids about our tough back to school decisions
We should not shelter our children from our disappointment. While it is natural to have this desire, it is not a good idea to want to keep them from knowing that we, as adults, sometimes have “bad” (i.e. not the most fun) feelings.
Be My Own Valentine Challenge! #iwasmadeamasterpiece
In February we launched a reboot of our #Iwasmadeamasterpiece social media campaign from this summer with a fun valentines themed twist.
Happy Birthday A Children’s House For The Soul!
As part of our birthday surprise, A Children’s House for the Soul announced the launch of our public capital campaign to buy 1972 W. Dallas and renovate the space into the first ever community building dedicated to the social, emotional and spiritual support of children with chronic skin conditions/birthmarks and their families.
2020 Camp Reunion Recap
The 2020 Camp Dermadillo Reunion was a great success! We had more than 60 friends new and “old” come to Speedy’s Fast Track for a great day of go-kart racing, mini golf, laser tag, arcade games and more.
2019 Family Day Recap
Love the Skin You’re In Family Day 2019 is officially in the books! We had a great time and learned a lot and I am so grateful for the wonderful day!
Dear My Perfect, Rashy, Skin
As the month of November is upon us, I know we are all going to begin reflecting on what we are thankful for, and secretly looking towards the new year thinking of things we hope to come. I just wanted to write you a letter to thank you, Skin, for all the ways you’ve been there for me and shaped me as a person. I never really stopped to think about it before, but in a way, you have made all the difference.
Our Journey with Eczema
We are so thankful to Joyce and Leah for both sharing their story about Leah’s eczema.
How to explain Eczema by Age
While eczema can seem common, it takes on a lot of different forms. Also, many people don’t understand how much pain and discomfort can come from eczema. Here are a few ways to explain eczema to different ages.
I am not my hair. Alopecia Awareness Month
Hello, my name is Megan and I have alopecia. It is alopecia awareness month and I would like to share my story. The basic description of alopecia is that hair falls out in patches, or total loss of hair on the scalp or the body. Alopecia is different for everyone, and for me, I went through different stages.
How to explain Alopecia to children of different ages
Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune disorder that often results in unpredictable hair loss. It affects roughly 6.8 million people in the United States.In the majority of cases, hair falls out in small patches around the size of a quarter. For most people, the hair loss is nothing more than a few patches, though in some cases it can be more extreme.
Our journey with Alopecia Areata
In honor of National Alopecia Awareness Month, one of our Mom’s is sharing her and her daughter’s path over the last 10 years since diagnosis. Thank you Stacy for sharing your family and your faith with us!
Developing a School Coping Plan for your Child
As parents, one of the best things we can do is to work with educators, school counselors and nurses to help to develop a coping plan for how to manage school.