The new flu and the constant media focus on it creates worry for parents and children alike. What to do and how to help children stay calm.
With all of the media attention being paid to the new flu outbreak, children may become frightened or very worried about catching the virus.
When children talk to one another, they may give and receive wrong information, and peers can magnify their fears. Without a bit of guidance from adults, it's easy for kids to feel panicked.
It's too early to know how serious this outbreak could become or how long it might last. Still, it is important to help the kids in your life keep it in perspective and to keep yourself both calm and informed.
The first and most important step is to open a conversation with your children. Start by asking if they have heard about the illness, what they know about it, and how they are feeling about it. Listen carefully.
When talking with younger children, help them know what is fact and what is fiction. Hearing that this is a disease called "swine" flu can lead children to form many wrong ideas. Let them know that even though it's called "swine flu," it is an illness people get. It's a new form of the flu. Let them know that people can't get the illness from eating pork. (And that it doesn't really have much to do with pigs.)
Reassure children. Let them know that if they were to get sick with this flu, there is medicine to help them get better. Tell them that you and others would take care of them until they got better.
Talk about how to prevent getting the flu. Let them know that it can be spread by the coughs or sneezes of people who are sick. Teach them what they can do to help prevent getting sick: Wash their hands often and well. Cover their coughs or sneezes (into a tissue or into their sleeve). Remind them to let you know if they aren't feeling well.
Now may be a good time to talk to your children about how to stay healthy, in general. Tell them about the importance of getting plenty of rest and exercise, eating a healthy diet, and drinking plenty of water.
When talking with older children, it's important also to put things in perspective. Remind them that most of the outbreaks reported to date in the U.S. have been mild. Let them know that when schools and child care centers have been closed, this has been done to be cautious. These closings have been based on just a single or a few cases. Remind them that almost all of the people in the U.S. who have gotten sick with the flu have recovered.
Watch for signs of the flu in your children. Things to look for include fever, sore throat, body and head aches, persistent cough, chills and fatigue. If your children have any symptoms of the flu, keep them home from child care or school. Call a health-care professional.
Meanwhile, talk to your children's school or child care provider about their plans for dealing with an outbreak.
Be aware that it's important to keep yourself informed of the facts. But it is also wise to limit the amount of time the TV and radio are on in your house while children are tuning in.
For the best and most up-to-date information, check in with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [1]or the Extension Disaster Education Network's Swine Flu page.[2]
Source: Dr. Malcolm Smith, Family Education and Family Policy Specialist for UNH Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by email at: Malcolm.smith@unh.edu