Page 11 - Child Care Connections Fall 2020

How to Help Children Cope With Stress

During The 2019-nCoV Outbreak

Children may respond to stress in different ways such as being more clingy, anxious, withdrawing, angry or
agitated, bedwetting etc. Respond to your child’s reactions in a supportive way, listen to their concerns and
give them extra love and attention. Learn more at www.who.int

STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3:
Be Attentive, Give Them Maintain a

Listen & Discuss Reassurance Familiar Routine

Children need adults’ love and Try to keep children close to their Keep to regular routines and
attention during difficult times. parents and family, avoid separation schedules as much as possible.
Give them extra time and attention. from their caregivers. If separation You can recreate familiar routines
Remember to listen to your children, occurs (e.g. hospitalization), ensure in a new environment, such as
speak kindly and reassure them. that there is regular contact (e.g. via school and learning schedules in
phone) for a sense of reassurance. a home setting.

STEP 4: STEP 5: STEP 6:

Opportunities to Be Informative Be Honest &
Safely Play & Rest About the Crisis Transparent

If possible, make opportunities to Provide facts about what has Reassuringly explain what to expect
ensure that the the child has time to happened, explain what is going on if a family member and/or the child
play and have fun. By allocating now and give clear steps on how to ever feels unwell, what symptoms to
time to safely engage in play, reduce their risk of being infected by look out for and what may happen
physical activity, and rest is all the disease in words that they can (e.g. going to the hospital to get
beneficial to their overall well being. understand depending on their age. help from caring doctors).

World Health Organization
Source: who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/helping-
children-cope-with-stress-print.pdf?sfvrsn=f3a063ff_2