After the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in India, several state governments have announced shutdown of schools and colleges within their respective geographical boundaries. As a safety measure, schools will remain closed till 31st March in the states of Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, etc.
With schools shutting down and bringing a significant shift in a child’s routine life, it becomes essential to guide kids in the right direction. In such a situation, parents must keep calm and educate their children about the disease.
However, several questions might cross your mind being a parent, such as –
Should I inform my child about the coronavirus infection?
Well, the answer to this question is yes! You don’t want to end up in a situation wherein your kid may acquire misleading or wrong information and panic. Hence, make sure you keep them informed about the disease and how it can affect them if preventive measures are not taken.
How to explain my kid about this pandemic?
Kids are delicate, and if the information is conveyed wrongly to them, it can affect them adversely. Therefore, parents must be cautious and attentive regarding their behaviour around kids, and about what they say to them. Firstly, calm yourselves down and then explain the illness and focus on the prevention tips. This will educate kids while not worrying them.
How to keep them engaged during this break so that they don’t lag academically?
While schools in different states are shut down till 31st March 2020, being a parent, you may worry about their academic progress. You may think that the gap will disrupt their study routine and will impact academic progression. Conversely, you can use this as a study break and keep your child engaged. You can help them in self-study sessions or in various hobbies like singing, painting, etc. at home itself.
While self-studies can get tedious and especially tricky for kids having working parents, study assistance becomes essential. To help students in this regard, Vedantu has come up with the idea to make available their masterclasses free of cost. You can enrol via our website or via downloading the app and help your child study and learn the exercises from home itself while keeping them protected from the coronavirus disease.
Furthermore, have a look at the considerations that you should make before talking to your children about COVID-19.
Things to Consider Before Talking to Your Child
With schools shutting down and news channels making circulations in every nook and corner of the country, children are somewhat aware of the unusual situation. However, it is essential to guide them in the right direction.
Keep these points in mind before talking to your child!
Talk and learn what they already know about coronavirus. It is essential to learn what your children know and what they think to determine their state of mind. They might be in a state of worry without you realising it. This way, you will learn if your kid has misunderstood or misinterpreted any information which you can rectify.
Not every information is apt for everyone and being a parent; you should know this. Depending upon the age of your child, mental strength, and response to various situations, you should determine the extent of information to be provided. You shouldn’t stress your child by adding unnecessary details on the pandemic coronavirus disease.
You should keep your children away from news channels. Since you can’t control the type of information, its seriousness, and impact, it is better to keep them away from such news.
What to Inform Your Kids?
Another milestone in your path is to determine the extent of information you should provide to your children. Since children are sensitive to such news, and it may have a long-lasting impact on their mental health, you should focus on informing only the needful about coronavirus. You need to consider teaching them the prevention tips and safety measures so that they stay protected in their homes without questioning.
Inform them about coronavirus & what is a contagious disease
Inform your kids what COVID-19 is, its symptoms, and how it can affect one’s health. Don’t scare the child by telling irrelevant and negative information. Assure them about the importance of taking preventive measures. Inform them that it can be spread by coming in contact with another infected human and hence they need to stay safe in their home. Help your kid understand the need to shut down schools.
Inform them about the symptoms
Help your kid understand the symptoms of coronavirus and assure them it can be cured with proper medication and cure. Also, make them feel comfortable so that they share information with you. Here are the symptoms of COVID-19 that you need to note
Cough
Fever
Shortness of breath
Inform them about the Preventive measures
Tell your children the essence of prevention and why they need to take these preventive measures. This will ensure that the kids take care of themselves even when you are not around. Further, follow these preventive measures and inform your child about the same.
Teach them the essence of hygiene. Tell kids to wash their hands often and use alcohol-based sanitizer.
Tell them not to come in close contact with anyone who is sick.
Ask them not to share their food or bedding with anyone else.
Since they are contagious, it is better to avoid crowded places as the chances of getting infected with coronavirus is higher.
This way, you can help them become self-dependent while keeping them informed of the pandemic disease.
How to Make This Time Useful For Them?
With schools shutting down, students are left with more time that can be used productively. You can help them use this time in more ways to help them progress academically or otherwise.
Involve in activities as per hobbies & interests
Each child is different and so are their interests. One may excel in painting while the other has a knack for singing and dancing. Help your child improve those skills during this holiday. Out of the busy school routine, this time can be used as a time to hone their interests and abilities.
Register for online classes
While other skills are necessary, academic progress is crucial for students to secure marks in the examination. Therefore, you can register for our online masterclasses and help your kid learn various concepts as per their course syllabus.
Ensure Your Child’s Academic Progress with Vedantu!
In this dire situation caused by coronavirus, Vedantu has realised the requirement of students and parents worrying about their academics. And thus, we came up with the idea of keeping our masterclasses free at this situation so that your kids can learn from home itself.
Our expert professors teach the concepts in an efficient manner that helps students clear even the complex of ideas effortlessly. You can help your kid attend the online classes by registering through the website or by downloading the Vedantu app. Your kid can also participate in the interactive sessions available and learn and practise to never lag in their academic pursuits.
Subsequently, parents should ensure to provide necessary information to kids while skipping unnecessary or troubling ones. Moreover, as a parent, you will be able to help your kids utilise the time more efficiently. Now keep your child's preparation undeterred with our study material and NCERT Solutions Class 1 to 12 all subjects available on Vedantu site.
