Media Contact: Catherine Dehdashti, U of M Extension (612) 625-0237, ced@umn.edu

Talk to children about H1N1 (swine) flu

ST. PAUL, Minn. (5/4/2009) — It is nearly impossible to turn on the TV or radio or pick up a paper without hearing about the newest strain of influenza. As adults, we listen for facts and try to understand and calculate our actual risks. How do our children perceive these news reports? What can we say to them to keep their fears in check? How do we protect them?

As parents we need to reassure our children and make sure they understand the factual information. We need to listen to their questions and fears. We need to make sure they understand what they can do to prevent illness. This is a good time to reinforce good health and hygiene behaviors and to practice them yourself as a good role model.

The information coming from a variety of sources is consistent. To prevent the spread of the virus, follow the recommended steps of health hygiene:

Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Alcohol based hand cleansers are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is 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
Avoid close contact. 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.

Find out from your children what questions they have and answer them factually. Ask what they have heard from TV or from other children and address their fears. Help them to understand that this virus is much like almost any other flu they may have had and that most people recover. They should also know that there are entities in place that are doing their job to prevent this from becoming a widespread outbreak. Schools are exercising caution to prevent this from quickly spreading among their student population.

If your children seem to be extremely fearful about this, you may want to limit their media exposure. Seeing a lot of people wearing masks may be frightening especially for young children. Your attitudes as parents can also send a message to your children about the severity of the situation. Are you remaining calm, are you panicky or are you dismissing the information?
If you see symptoms in your children, call your doctor or clinic and keep them home from school or daycare until you can confirm the source of their symptoms.

More information is available from University of Minnesota Extension at www.extension.umn.edu/flu.

Source: Minnell Tralle, parenting educator with University of Minnesota Extension

NOTE: News releases were current as of the date of issue. If you have a question on older releases, use the news release search (upper left-hand column of the News main page) or the main Extension search (upper right of this page) to locate more recent information.

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URL: http:// www.cyfernet.mes.umn.edu/extensionnews/2009/talk-to-children-h1n1flu.html This page was updated May 4, 2009 .
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