Talking with Children About COVID-19

More than 50 international organizations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund and Save the Children, recently released a free children’s book to help caregivers talk with their children about COVID-19.

The book is called My Hero Is You: How Kids Can Fight COVID-19! and features a young child named Sara who helps children learn how to protect themselves and others from COVID-19. The book also tackles the difficult emotions and questions that many children may be feeling during these uncertain times.

If you have been trying to find ways to talk to your child about COVID-19, this book might be a good starting point. You can find downloadable copies of the book in English, Russian, French, Ukrainian, Arabic, Spanish, German, Turkish, and Malay.

Here are some additional tips on talking to your children about COVID-19 from trusted sources:

• Centers for Disease Control – Talking with Children about Coronavirus Disease 2019
• KidsHealth – Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to Talk to Your Child
• Mayo Clinic – How to talk to your kids about COVID-19
• NCTSN (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network) – Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• PBS.org – 10 Tips for talking about COVID-19 with your kids
• World Health Organization – Tips for parenting during the COVID-19 outbreak

During this time, we hope you and your family have also had the opportunity to stay connected to the Library via its virtual events, including storytimes, and its digital resources you can use from home.

If you are reading at home, please join our Spring Into Reading Challenge, which will run through May 22.

We wish you all good health and hope to see you soon!

-MCPL Youth Services Department