Parents have a lot to worry about at the moment; protecting their families from Coronavirus, keeping their jobs, money, having enough food to put on the table etc and now the children aren’t in school, but need to carry on with school work at home and be entertained while parents have to work from home as well. With so much to worry about, it’s easy to see how parents might forget that children worry too.
Many children are frightened and traumatised by what they are hearing about the virus.
The problem is that children usually act out their worries rather than putting them into words. Worried children are often attention seeking, demanding, defiant and whine or regress in their behavior. This can be too much for already over-burdened parents who may well respond with anger and place children at risk.
YOUR CHILDREN NEED YOU TO EXPLAIN THINGS TO THEM AND REASSURE THEM THAT THEY AND YOU WILL BE OK AND THAT YOU WILL BE THERE TO LOOK AFTER THEM AND KEEP THEM SAFE.
Safeguarding children is a job for all of us. Call for help if you think it is needed.
Children’s book publisher Nosy Crow have released a free information book explaining the coronavirus to children, illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler. The book is recommended for age 5-9.
You can view and download the book here
