Why are we home all day?

DAY 1

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Mom: School is closed. We are going to stay home for a few days. 

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4 year old: No! I want to go out! 

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Mom: Our days are going to be different for while. We are going to have workdays at home and weekends (play/relax) days at home. 

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4 year old: I went to go out now!

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Mom: I feel the same way! I wish we could go right now. 

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DAY 3

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4year old: Let’s go to the park or have a play date. 

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Mom: The park is closed, too. Everything is closed. We are all staying home for now. 

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4 year old: why? 

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Mom: Do you want to know why? Germs can make people ill sometimes. The doctors discovered there is a jumpy germ that likes to jump on different things and places. Grown ups were not being that good at washing their hands like kids do. They weren’t coughing on their elbows either so this jumpy germ went to too many places. 

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4 year old: Nahhh! You made that up. It’s not true. (I can totally relate)

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Mom: It is. The doctors found it. It’s called Coronavirus. 

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4 year old: HA HA HA. You just made up that name. 

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Mom: I know. It sounds silly! But that is the name the doctors gave it. To make this jumpy germ go away doctors asked people to help. So everyone helping the doctors staying home until it goes away. When it goes away, we will be able to go back to school, restaurants, the park and have play dates again. 

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4 year old: Where is the jumpy germ?

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Mom: that is the tricky part. We can’t see it. Only doctors can. 

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DAY 5 (walking around the block)

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4 year old: You can’t see germs, right? 

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Mom: No, we can’t. They are invisible. Only doctors and scientists can see them on a microscope. It is a special machine they have. 

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4 year old: Are they here?

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Mom: No. they might be in things people touch a lot, or in places where there is a lot of people. That is why people are staying a little far away from each other until the jumpy germ goes away. You can still wave, say hi, smile to people. 

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DAY 6

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4 year-old: I am going bring in the box from outside. 

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Me: I know you like to do that, but I am going to do it until the jumpy germ goes away just in case. I will give you another box you can help me carry in the kitchen.

I am sure as the days go by, more questions will arise. When I talk to him, I try to stay grounded and he feels my confidence.  I am not telling it as a story but as a serious answer to his question. Thank you @askthechildwhisperer for sharing tools that round up my explanation. 

When we come back to places one day, I want him to be careful about germs but knows they are a normal part of life. He will be able to hug his friends and family at ease. He understands physical distancing is needed right now but we can be social in many different ways.

The jumpy germ might be jumping around right now, but one day it will be us and children who will be! 

#empowerkidsforlife #explaincoronavirustochildren # hardconversationswithchildren #keepcalm #wearehelpers #consciouswords #mindfulness