Having age appropriate discussion with children

Children and young people should understand basic, age-appropriate information about coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including its symptoms, complications, how it is transmitted and how to prevent transmission. Stay informed about COVID-19 through reputable sources such as WHO, UNICEF and Ghana’s Ministry of Health advisories and the Ministry of Information. Be aware of fake information/myths that may circulate by word-of-mouth or online.

Age-specific health education

Below are suggestions on how to engage Children of different ages on preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses. Activities should be contextualized further based on the specific needs of children (language, ability, gender, etc.)

Ages from 2-9 years

• Focus on good health behaviors, such as using tissue when coughing and sneezing and covering coughs and sneezes with the elbow when you do not have a tissue. And also, wash hands frequently
• Sing a song while teaching your child to wash hands with soap under running water for the recommended 20 second duration to make learning fun. Demonstrate to your child how to apply the hand sanitizer
• Develop a way to track hand washing and reward for frequent/timely hand washing
• Have children sit further apart from one another, have them practice stretching their arms out or ‘flap their wings’, they should keep enough space not to touch their friends.

Ages 10-16 years

• Make sure you listen to children’s concerns and answer their questions in an age-appropriate manner; do not overwhelm them with too much information.
• Encourage them to express and communicate their feelings.
• Discuss the different reactions they may experience and explain that these are normal reactions to an abnormal situation.
• Emphasize that children can do a lot to keep themselves and others safe. Introduce the concept of social distancing (standing further away from friends, avoiding large crowds, not touching people if you don’t need to, etc.)
• Focus on good health behaviors, such as using tissue when coughing and sneezing and covering coughs and sneezes with the elbow when you do not have a tissue and washing hands frequently.
• Help children understand the basic concepts of disease prevention and control. Use exercises that demonstrate how germs can spread. For example, by putting colored water in a spray bottle and spraying over a piece of white paper. Observe how far the droplets travel.
• Demonstrate why it is important to wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and under running water. Put a small amount of glitter in their hands and have them wash them with just water, notice how much glitter remains, then have them wash for 20 seconds with soap and water.

Resources

UNICEF. For every child. How teachers can talk to children about coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Tips for having age appropriate discussion to reassure and protect children. Retrieved on Tuesday,12^th May 2020 from https://ww.unicef.org/coronavirus/how -teachers-can-talk-children-about-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

Source: Public Affairs Unit Desk.