Talking to Kids About Swine Flu...Without Scaring Them Silly

These days, it seems like everyone's talking about swine flu. You can't pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV without seeing a story about it, but parents are still struggling with some pretty big questions-- whether or not they should give their kids the vaccine, whether or not they can give their kids the vaccine, what to do if their kids are out of school for long periods of time...

As they hear bits and pieces of these 'adult' conversations and observe a growing number of empty desks, canceled field trips, and even school closings, there are a lot of anxious kids out there. Even in the face of their own unanswered questions, it's up to parents to give kids the information they need to stay calm, and hopefully healthy, in the face of the swine flu pandemic. The question is: how can you talk to your kids about swine flu without scaring them silly?

The good news is, you don't have to prepare a dissertation on the topic to soothe kids' jangly nerves. In fact, simple is better. The basic message parents should convey, say the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is this: We, along with your teachers, school administrators and others in our community, are doing everything to keep you from getting sick. And if you do get sick we know how to make you better.

Before you start a lecture on the topic, ask your kids to tell you what they already know about the swine flu, so you can find out which misconceptions you need to address. Here are some common misunderstandings that children have about swine flu, and how you can help dispel them:

Myth 1: "Everyone is getting swine flu."

The truth: "Kids who see news stories about Swine Flu on TV assume everyone has it and that they're going to get it," says Patti Harrison, Ph.D., president of the National Association of School Psychologists. In fact, the percentage of the population who are sick is actually very small. Harrison says parents should explain to their children that, "some people have this, and we're trying to prevent you from getting it." Minimizing or eliminating television from your kids' lives right now can help reduce their anxiety.

Myth 2: "If I get swine flu, I'll die."

The truth: Though getting any flu is never fun, the majority of people who get swine flu feel as though they've had a bad cold, then they get better. Empower your child with explanations about what flu symptoms feel like (fever, sore throat, and cough) so she can be on the lookout and reassure her that if she gets the flu you and her doctors can help her get better.

Myth 3: "People can get swine flu from eating pork."

The truth: The virus travels through the coughs and sneezes of people infected with the virus. People may also become get swine flu by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouths or noses. Hand washing is the number one way to protect oneself from swine flu.

Myth 4: "Psssst...did you hear who has swine flu?!"

The truth: Unfortunately, when kids lack a thorough understanding about a topic it becomes easy fodder for gossip and rumor spreading. "It was a big concern in the spring when the first reports were that the virus was coming out of Mexico. There was a lot of concern about excessive blaming and bullying towards an ethnic group," says Garcia, who reminds the public that this is "an equal opportunity virus." It's important that children aren't allowed to gossip about who may or may not have swine flu or to make judgments about those who get it. Kids need to know that if someone has swine flu it doesn't mean they're dirty or that they've done anything wrong. And once their doctor says it's ok for them to be back at school, kids who have swine flu are no longer contagious. Encourage your child to make a get-well card for classmates who are out sick with swine flu or anything else.

Myth 5: "There's nothing I can do to avoid swine flu"

The truth: It's important to empower your child. Make her feel like part of the solution by teaching her the tricks to preventing the spread of the virus. "Children will be more resilient to crisis if they have something they can do to help," O'Neill says. Reinforce these tips often with your child:

• Wash your hands well by using plenty of soap and water, and scrubbing them long enough to sing the "Happy Birthday" song to yourself twice.
• Don't have a tissue, but need to cough or sneeze? Do it in your elbow or shoulder.
• Don't share drinks. The rule, coined by school nurse Mary Pappas (who discovered the first case of swine flu in New York) is: "If it's wet and it's not yours, don't touch it."
• If you don't feel well, stay home from school.
• Give your overall health a boost, by eating lots of fruits and vegetables, drinking lots of water, and getting plenty of sleep.

If getting your child to follow these guidelines seems a challenge, just remember that promoting any type of behavior is a matter of good modeling. "If kids see parents coughing into their shoulder or elbow, it will seem like the normal thing," Garcia says.

In the unfortunate event that your child does contract swine flu, Garcia recommends that parents treat it no differently than how you would treat the regular flu--responding in a common sense way, with lots of reassurances that the child will be okay. "Refer to it as the flu with your child. There won't be a lot of testing to differentiate swine flu from seasonal flu because the treatment is the same. There will be standard precautions with all of them," she says, adding that any change in that protocol will be heavily publicized.

Ultimately, if you take a calm, yet prepared stance, your child will take your cue. "Children are really competent and resilient little humans," Harrison says. "If they are reassured and provided with the basic factual information, they trust the adults around them, and are reassured by them."

 

Follow Danielle Wood on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kindergartentip

Comments

[JuniperSunshine]

How about:

"Be grateful that we live in a modern country, in the current age, where almost everyone who gets sick can (if money permits!) be treated and recover fully. Children used to die from things like dehydration and infections, and now we can treat those at the hospital. A little flu is not the worst thing that can happen to you."

[mofmars333]

Expert Pediatrician Exposes Vaccine Myths

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/11/14/Expert-Pediatrician-Exposes-Vaccine-Myths.aspx

[mofmars333]

Here's a good read that will help people learn & decide whether or not to take the shot.

With many people asking questions, here's a compiled list of those frequently asked along with some less frequently asked.

This article will help the reader to make an informed decision about the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated­."

http://www.thevaccination.com/article/2/Should-I-get-the-new-H1N1-vaccine.html

[mofmars333]

Every American citizen needs to know about this so be sure to scroll down at the second link to see the important video concerning what is said to be the worst cover up in the history of the military.

It was stated when this comes out, it will make the Walter Reed scandal pale in comparison.

NBC reports on secret shots leaving many on the brink of death in the military & it was found the mystery shots were flu vaccine.

A highly praised Department of Defense Medical Officer disclosed that thousands are having severe reactions & he believes they are being used as guinea pigs in experiments.

"The ‘big lie" H1N1 coincidences, contradictions and conspiring"

Part 1

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10438-Peace-Studies-Examiner~y2009m8d27-The-big-lie-H1N1-coincidence-contradiction-and-conspiring

Part 2

http://www.examiner.com/x-10438-Peace-Studies-Examiner~y2009m8d28-The-big-lie-H1N1-coincidence-contradiction-conspiring-part-II

[david87501]

A reaction to vaccine in Virginia.
http://www.examiner.com/x-17695-Tampa-Health-Care-Examiner~y2009m11d14-Boy-develops-GuillainBarre-syndrome-after-receiving-H1N1-swine-flu-vaccine

[MarvaJo]

I work as a substitute teacher. I was in a 2nd grade a few weeks ago and after the fourth child went home that day with a fever, a girl appeared at my side trembling, with huge tears splashing on the floor. She was so terrified she could barely talk, and said in a tiny, shaking voice that she was so scared of the flu. She was inconsolable. I took her to the office and, wonderfully, the counselor and the nurse were in the hall, but even the two of them had a difficult time calming her down. Please, parents, be calm and soothing. The kids are scared.

[smilinggreenmom]

This is absolutely wonderful information. We have two of our own kids and I also babysit others. I have had some of the kids asking questions about swine flu at only four years of age! I could not believe they even knew or heard of it. We really have been focusing on hand washing and coughing into the inner elbow plus trying to keep things as disinfected as possible in our home. We also take our vitamins everyday including our Vidazorb chewable probiotics, our daily vitamins, drink lots of water and are trying to make sure we get plenty of sleep! We feel like these are good habits to encourage regardless of germs and flu season and I think you are right that we should be careful not to unnecessarily scare or worry our little ones!

[Danielle Wood - Huffpost Blogger]

I didn't know they made probiotics for kids. Thanks for the tip!

[marymoran]

My child came home from school saying they learned to cough and sneeze into their elbows with Germy Wormie, and I was totally taken aback. I always used my hands. But I went to the website, and now I get it, hands touch, elbows don't!! Kids can touch up to 300 surfaces in 1/2 an hour, and they hate to wash their hands. This is a simple thing that can make a huge difference. There is also an entertaining DVD that teaches kids how to do this and reinforces other important hygiene habits. This is so important because even if you get the vaccination, you can STILL be a carrier of H1N1.

[lakeharriet]

The vacines contain mercury in the form of thimerasol. They also contain aluminum and various other components that ought not be injected into a child or anyone else.

[Danielle Wood - Huffpost Blogger]

Actually, there are versions of the vaccine without themerasol. My son and I just had that version-- you sniff it-- so no shot either. But you have to ask most doctors to order it specially. They don't all have this version.

[Sheldon101]

The thimerosal complaint should be considered truly ridiculous even by the vaccine--> autism crowd if they didn't have the true religion that vaccines are bad.

Because the original complaint was limited to a lot of vaccines given on one day or a short period of time that got into the brain of those at age to develop autism. They've dropped the stuff from almost all vaccines. The flu vaccine isn't going to add much and if you're past the childhood vaccination schedule you're too old and too heavy for it to matter.

Part of the delay in US vaccine is the result of t he US gov't ordering vaccine without preservative in pre-filled needles. That's been harder to do than the usual 10 dose vial.

Flu Vaccination: If not for yourself, for your cat. After all one cat has caught H1N1 from its owners.

[Nelson Montana - Huffpost Blogger]

Yes, it's difficult to obtain and from my understanding, many of the nasal vaccines also contain it because it's a necessary preservative. How can anyone be sure?

I advice that everyone take 2000 mgs of Glutathione a day for one week after getting a flu shot to help remove the mercury. (Although there's probably more mercury in a can of tuna fish).

Another thing to remember is that there are hundreds of flu strains. We can't get inoculated for all of them. Not unlike Hong Kong flu of the 70's and Bird flu of the 90's these things are over sensationalized. Get one flu shot and stay healthy. That's your best bet..

[mbaty]

I am impressed that you didn't mention the injections. Did you know Garlic is excellent for warding off flus in part because of a compound called Allicin? Our bodies are miraculous, and nature has provided us many ways of staying healthy.

[Sheldon101]

You left out vaccination.

As soon as it is available, tell the kid they're going to get it and will make it much less likely they'll be infected at all AND if they get infected, it will be a lot milder.

If the kid has been properly vaccinated, there's not a lot to say because the kid is unlikely to get infected.

Flu Vaccination: Safe, Effective, Incredibly morally correct for parents. And its the natural way to prevent infection. No drugs, nothing weird...ju­st using God's own blessing to man, the immune system, to prevent infection.

[JeroenRitsema]

If in America they start mandatory vaccinations expect a civil war.

[JeroenRitsema]

A young woman in France has been diagnosed with the crippling illness Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) after a swine flu shot, following reports yesterday about a Virginia teen who was similarly struck down by the disease hours after receiving the H1N1 vaccine.

The woman, identified only as a health worker, was diagnosed with GBS six days after she received the swine flu shot, according to the French health ministry.

[Sheldon101]

And this means...

A young women six days after getting vaccinated was diagnosed with GBS.

Nothing more.

Flu vaccination: Incredibly safe, for H1N1 extremely effective and the only morally correct thing to do And, oh yeah, it's the natural way to prevent infection

[Danielle Wood - Huffpost Blogger]

Agreed. The H1N1 vaccines are built on the same platform so to speak as the regular flu vaccines.

[JuniperSunshine]

Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a KNOWN RISK of many vaccines. Even the vaccine lobby will quietly settle a case like this out of court. In the US, we have a fund set up to pacify those who have lost loved ones to vaccines.

What has to happen for you to acknowledge the proven, causal link between vaccines and occasional neurological damage or death? How many people have to be injured before we stop bleating, "vaccines for everyone, at any age, and for every possible disease, because it's risk-free.­"???