6 Tips for Talking About the br Coronavirus With Your Kids With news of the virus dominating headlines everywhere, it’sbr only a matter of time before your kids hear about COVID-19. Here are six tips from expertsbr at the Child Mind Institute to br help you talk with your child br about the coronavirus. 1. Don’t be afraid to talk about the coronavirus withbr your kids, as they’ll likely hear about it on their own. Receiving fact-based information frombr their parent will likely be much more reassuringbr then whatever their friends are telling them. 2. Rather then overwhelming thembr with information, let your childrenbr ask you what they want to know. Answer honestly and clearly, but use their age and maturitybr level to determine how much information is too much. 3. Encourage your child to be openbr about the feelings and fears they maybr be having because of the coronavirus. Your goal is to keep them informed, br but not unnecessarily panicked. 4. Calm yourself down and deal with yourbr own anxiety before talking to your kids. If you’re feeling panicked, it is not the right time tobr talk to your kids, as you’ll cause them to feel it too. 5. Keep your family rooted in routines and predictability tobr distract them from the uncertainty being caused by COVID-19. This is especially importantbr if your child’s daycare orbr school shuts down as abr result of the outbreak. 6. Emphasize the ways in which you and your child canbr stay safe. This will help them feel empowered. If they know the specific things they canbr do to keep themselves safe, they’re morebr likely to execute them on their own.