Article from the CDC: Talking with Children about Coronavirus

As public conversations around coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increase, children may worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting ill with COVID-19. Parents, family members, school staff, and other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, accurate, and minimizes anxiety or fear. CDC has created guidance to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.

General principles for talking to children:

Remain calm and reassuring.

• Remember that children will react to both what you say and how you say it. They will pick up cues from the conversations you have with them and with others.

Make yourself available to listen and to talk.

• Make time to talk. Be sure children know they can come to you when they have questions.

Avoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma.

• Remember that viruses can make anyone sick, regardless of a person’s race or ethnicity. Avoid making assumptions about who might have COVID-19.

Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio, or online.

• Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on COVID-19. Too much information on one topic can lead to anxiety.

Provide information that is honest and accurate.

• Give children information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental level of the child.

• Talk to children about how some stories on COVID-19 on the Internet and social media may be based on rumors and inaccurate information.

Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs.

• Remind children to stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing or sick.

• Remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, then throw the tissue into the trash.

• Discuss any new actions that may be taken at school to help protect children and school staff.
  (e.g., increased handwashing, cancellation of events or activities)

• Get children into a handwashing habit.

  • Teach them to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.

  • If soap and water are not available, teach them to use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol. Supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol, especially in schools and childcare facilities.

Regarding THE facts about COVID-19 for discussions with children:

Try to keep information simple and remind them that health and school officials are working hard to keep everyone safe and healthy.

What is COVID-19?

• COVID-19 is the short name for “coronavirus disease 2019.” It is a new virus. Doctors and scientists are still learning about it.

• Recently, this virus has made a lot of people sick. Scientists and doctors think that most people will be ok, especially kids, but some people might get pretty sick.

• Doctors and health experts are working hard to help people stay healthy.

What can I do so that I don’t get COVID-19?

• You can practice healthy habits at home, school, and play to help protect against the spread of COVID-19:

  • Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. If you sneeze or cough into a tissue, throw it in the trash right away.

  • Keep your hands out of your mouth, nose, and eyes. This will help keep germs out of your body.

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Follow these five steps—wet, lather (make bubbles), scrub (rub together), rinse and dry. You can sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.

  • If you don’t have soap and water, have an adult help you use a special hand cleaner.

  • Keep things clean. Older children can help adults at home and school clean the things we touch the most, like desks, doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls. (Note for adults: you can find more information about cleaning and disinfecting on CDC’s website.)

  • If you feel sick, stay home. Just like you don’t want to get other people’s germs in your body, other people don’t want to get your germs either.

What happens if you get sick with COVID-19?

• COVID-19 can look different in different people. For many people, being sick with COVID-19 would be a little bit like having the flu. People can get a fever, cough, or have a hard time taking deep breaths. Most people who have gotten COVID-19 have not gotten very sick. Only a small group of people who get it have had more serious problems. From what doctors have seen so far, most children don’t seem to get very sick. While a lot of adults get sick, most adults get better.

• If you do get sick, it doesn’t mean you have COVID-19. People can get sick from all kinds of germs. What’s important to remember is that if you do get sick, the adults at home and school will help get you any help that you need.

• If you suspect your child may have COVID-19, call the healthcare facility to let them know before you bring your child in to see them.

Coronavirus Monitoring Update

Dear OA Family,

In order to help prevent the broader spread of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID19) and along with many school districts in Galveston County, Odyssey Academy will be closed next week, March 16-20.  All school activities and events are also cancelled.  

With the global outbreak and confirmed cases of (COVID19) in the Greater Houston area, your OA team wanted to reach out to share important information for our families, staff, and school communities.

First, if you have been exposed to COVID19 or if your travels have taken you to an area of the world where the Center for Disease Control has issued advisories, please email our school nurse, (Celia) Vanessa Torres, at ctorres@odyssey-academy.com and your school principal, Aimee Felchak at afelchak@odyssey-academy.com or Dr. Holly Bailey at hbailey@odyssey-academy.com  to self-report as well as confirm that you will self-quarantine and stay home for 14 days.  Health authorities at the U.S. airport will provide guidance and information. 

For families who have not traveled to a high-risk global country but still traveled away from home, please be mindful that this is an ever-changing situation, and we urge you to follow the Center for Disease Control’s guidance for virus prevention. The prevention measures are as follows: 

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.

• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

• Cleaning your hands by washing them often or using hand sanitizer will help protect you from germs.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread when a person touches something contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

• Contact your family doctor if you have coronavirus-like symptoms or if you have any questions.

Although we will now join our neighboring districts in closing next week, OA is prepared to go back to school the week of March 23, 2020 with the following plan:

• Our schools have been deep cleaned over the break.

• We are planning to have staff and students who may have been exposed to the virus stay home for at least 14 days.

• We will cancel all non-essential activities including travel, field trips, community events, family nights, student after school activities, etc.

• We will not have students congregate in large groups by having breakfast/lunch in classrooms rather than all coming together in the cafeteria, not having assemblies with multiple grade levels, etc.

• We are working on a plan to support students via technology if our school closure continues past next week and will reach out to parents to assess internet and computer access.  

Please know we are actively meeting and communicating with our local and state health authorities.  We know there is a great deal of uncertainty at this time, but I want you to know the most important thing: We will always make decisions based on our core values of safety, integrity, encouragement, respect, and responsibility.  Your children and their safety are our priority! 

Although we will have this next week away from school, please stay connected with us for updates. 

Thank you,

Dr. Jennifer Goodman
OA Superintendent