Children need to learn about COVID-19 from you as a parent.

By Dickson Tumuramye

The world is in a tremor of the coronavirus that has so far hit some countries so badly. The panic and anxiety are getting too much to both countries and individual people. There is no way how we can settle when the president of Uganda too declared that schools, universities, churches, close, public gatherings and conferences are suspended all for one month. We have watched that some supermarkets are now empty. Flights have been suspended and movements limited or stopped. the children's education system is now disorganized for some time and this leaves them uncertain of how this will end.

All this has a direct impact on our children who may not clearly fathom with what coronavirus is all about. It is becoming compulsory that in most public places, people use sanitary facilities as a way of preventing the pandemic. This is why as a parent, you have the responsibility of reading and understanding what this coronavirus is all about so that you are equipped enough with information to answer the many unclear questions your children have/ask you.

Children believe in us a lot and expect us to know each and everything than anyone else under the planet earth. You cannot tell your child that you also don’t understand what is happening. This leaves a lot of anxiety in them. You need to know what coronavirus is and where all this started. You must guide them on how they should protect themselves. Now that they are back at home, sit them down and explain what ought to be done and not. Don’t take life for granted, you always need to have sanitary facilities at home and demonstrate how they should practice proper hygiene if they are to safeguard themselves from the virus. Take time to ask them what they know about the virus and how to respond to the preventative measures. Teach them the key tactics to tackle it like washing of hands with soap, coughing in the elbow, among others.


Make sure the young ones understand the purpose of this. This is not business as usual. Don’t increase the panic when explaining to them the dangers of this pandemic. It will leave them stressed. It is our primary responsibility to make sure that our children are safe. Teach them the things they can do right to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus. Make sure that their hygiene is very good and their environment is under your control during this break. They too need to be responsible enough to take every measure that will keep them safe.

As a family, trust God for this protection. Isaiah 41:10 says that "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will you, I will uphold you with you my righteous right hand." This disease should not take away our commitment to God. Ask them for God's protection from this virus every day. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still, Exodus 14:14.   

The writer is a child advocate and parenting coach, UCU

tumudickson@gmail.com