- HONG KONG
Tips For Explaining COVID-19 To Kids
Easy Anxieties And Precautions To Take
A new global health emergency is the most worrying time for parents. Statistics tell us that the annual flu is a bigger threat than the new coronavirus but the human mind is wired to fear the unknown more. If the daily headlines make the novel virus seem like a deadly apocalypse to adults (totally irrational), imagine the impact it has on little minds. After all, kids feed off our emotions; couple that with the uncertainty of being stuck at home, having no proper schedule and piles of misinformation on social media, and you find children at the bottom of the anxiety pit. So how do you put the risk into perspective, dial down the frenzy and still convey your concerns to children – go through our friendly coronavirus guide with your children and start a constructive conversation.
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Coronavirus Basics
Chilly weather calls for bundling up and taking extra care because the flu bugs are everywhere. You end up sneezy, drained, running a temperature and all achy and sore. It’s no fun, we tell you. The coronavirus is something similar - it has flu-like symptoms, at times makes people even more miserable, but many are actually okay, just a tad low.
The worry is that the infection is new - it’s so new that it doesn’t even have a proper name yet. Doctors call it the 2019nCoV, but if that sounds tricky call it the new coronavirus. And with an infection that new, there’s another problem - doctors don’t have a medicine to fully treat it. Research is on at a very fast pace, but till a cure or a vaccine comes through your immunity is the best line of defense. That means being less picky about healthy meals, and eating more vitamin-C foods like oranges, kiwis, broccoli, and berries. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential and so is regular stretching since you’re not getting much park play. Wondering what exactly causes the new coronavirus? Read on.
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Causes & Where Did It Come From?
The virus originated in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. As the name tells you, the new coronavirus is a virus. It belongs to the same family of viruses that give you a cold or the flu, but it can develop more severe symptoms. Coronaviruses are found in animals and can transfer to humans because viruses can easily mutate allowing them to infect other species.
What are the symptoms?
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- In severe cases: it can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.
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Handy Precautions List For The Kids
If you must go out, this is what you have should to protect yourself from the sneezes, wheezes and the flu:
- Don’t lick your fingers or pick your nose because that’s where the germs like to go
- No rubbing the eyes, scratching the ear because we want to be safe, my dear
- Cough into your arm so the rest of us face no harm
- Careful when you take out the mask, putting clothes in the laundry is now your task
- Wash your hands so well with soap, stop the virus from spreading around the globe.
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