Healthy Habits: Talking To Kids About the Coronavirus

PBS KIDS logo

Feeling stressed, scared or anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic? Breathe. Use these strategies to help children – and yourself – navigate these feelings. 

It can be difficult to know the right words or conversations to have with your children during uncertain times. Thankfully, there are a lot of great tips and guides to help us (the grownups) know what to say, depending on the age and developmental marker of our child. Use these resources from public media and partners to help you support your children during the coronavirus. 

Talking about the Coronavirus

• How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
• How to Help Kids Sort Fact from Fiction About the Coronavirus (from Common Sense Media)
• COMIC: What Kids Want To Know About Corona Virus (from NPR) 
• Meet The Helpers: What is Coronavirus? Videos and tips
• Caring for Each Other (from Sesame Street)

Talking about the News & Difficult Topics

• Explaining the News to Our Kids (from Common Sense Media)
• How to Talk About Difficult Subjects (from Common Sense Media)
• How to Talk About Violence, Crime, and War (from Common Sense Media)
• Talking with Kids About the News, Emergencies & Tragedy: For Home & Classroom (PBS resources)
• When Something Scary Happens: Resources to Help Families Cope in Emergencies and Other Challenging Times (from PBS KIDS)
• Watch the full playlist of songs, videos and full episodes! Resources from PBS KIDS, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Sid the Science Kid.

Go to WXXI Education Learn At Home site for more resources.

Feedback Survey: Tell us! WXXI wants your feedback on our Learn At Home broadcast and educational support resources. Tell us!