Summary: While children may not fully understand what's going on regarding coronavirus, they can still pick up on the fear and anxiety circulating within the their environment.COVID-19's presence in our society, our communities, our households is the cause of a great deal of anxiety. While children may not fully understand what's going on, they can still pick up on the fear and anxiety circulating within the their environment. They also may not comprehend the importance of social distancing. They're disappointed by the reality of the situation. Allow them to own that disappointment (don't deny it), but try to find ways to explain why social distancing is so critical for the health of the family and the health of the world. Dr. David J. Schonfeld is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and Professor of the Practice in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and Pediatrics at the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share tips for parents on creating structure and consistency, discussing feelings of fear and anxiety, and how to best get through these uncertain times.
