02/06/2020
As our children start returning to school, complete with face masks and hand sanitizer, please arm them with information to put their minds at ease.
Please remind your child that children get sick. That a sore throat or a cough or a runny nose or even a sore tummy does not necessarily mean Covid. These ailments are part of childhood. I am not trying to downplay Covid. But for children going back to school after weeks of living sheltered lives and hearing about this disease, life seems a little scary. Hearing adults, teachers, leaders, discuss whether or not it is safe for children to be sent back to school and then have the outcome of that decision told to them in the same breath as they are told to wear masks, sanitize and stay 2 meters away from friends is fairly intimidating. The thing is . . . Children will get sick. Not necessarily from Covid, but they may have a sore throat or an earache or a fever. Just a normal childhood illness. We need to tell them that a sore throat or a high fever or a tickly cough will mean that they have to stay home while they get well again, but doesn't necessarily mean Covid. I would hate my daughter to believe that because she has a winter cold she has Covid. Yes, Covid is very real, but in the mind of a child, where a shadow becomes a monster, let's explain that every cough doesn't mean Covid. Let's make our children feel a little more secure and not terrified at the thought of a sore throat or runny nose. Let's teach our children going back to school in the next few days to show empathy if a classmate says she feels unwell, to be kind and to tell an adult. To not assume the worst and above all, to not to be mean to the child who sneezes in class. Teach them that sometimes a cold is just a cold and its okay to feel poorly - they may need to stay home for a couple of days, but they will get better. Children got sick before Covid and need to know that they, and their friends, might get sick when they go back to school with all the normal childhood illnesses. Our children need reassurance not fear mongering. Make them feel safe so that that are not too scared to tell you that they have a sore throat!