"Budy's dad is sick and he needs to rest a lot, drink a lot of water and be alone for a while (...) Budy is overwhelmed" and surely thousands of children feel like Budy in this strange moment in which the coronavirus has changed all our routines.
With animated videos and online material, the Sesame Street educational program has published some tips on its social networks to help children manage the confinement, illness, sadness and stress of confinement and the pandemic.
"We cannot promise children that the people they love will not get sick or that things will be easier on a certain date, but we can provide them with the greatest possible security, keep them in touch with sick people through technology and explain them honest ”, they point out from Plaza Sésamo. In this way, "the children will end the confinement with a positive, patient and calm attitude," they assure.
How to explain the illness, the isolation and the feelings of sadness for not being able to lead a normal life? Elmo, Comegalletas, Budy, Abby, Archibaldo, Beto and Enrique are in charge of helping out thanks to the support of professionals behind the program and the Caring Each Other initiative that has been designed by the non-profit organization Sesame Workshop .
"Viruses are so small that they can be in many places, keep viruses away from you and your cookies", says Comegalletas, while Elmo tells why it is important to wash hands and proposes a song for the little ones to wash their time enough that the health authorities recommend.
The organization recommends keeping children away from the news about the disease, which does not mean that the little ones cannot ask questions about what is happening. “Respond simply but honestly, giving them only the information they request. Often, knowing the facts (even if they are troubling) is better than not knowing, ”they point out.
A sick family member
Depending on the severity of the patient, children may be in contact with the sick adult. From Plaza Sésamo they recommend making video calls and if you live in the same space, exchange drawings and sing songs through the door so that the person recovers soon. They also remember that it is important to give space to the feelings that children experience and talk about it. If you join children in cleaning the house and assume that handwashing is important, they may feel that they are helping to make their space safe from contagion.
If the family member is in the hospital, it will be important to explain that only the doctors and nurses can be with the patient because “they must concentrate on doing their job taking care of people who are very ill, there could also be many germs in the hospital. Explain that you don't want to take any germs you may have to the hospital, ”they say from Sesame Street. Other advice they give is to give information about the patient's health and explain that most people who get sick recover.
Missing friends
Most children are used to spending the day with their friends and peers, so it is normal to feel sad and miss them in these difficult times. Physical distance does not mean not maintaining social and emotional closeness. For this, video calls, videos recorded with the cell phone or meetings and birthday parties through the computer can be good resources to combat this loneliness.
Not only Sesame Street decided to produce educational content in times of the pandemic. From the Lego Foundation they also explain the importance of washing hands and staying at home as Batman does.
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