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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, M ar ch 26 ,2 02 0 | 4 Imagine your home, totally organized! Custom Closets, Garage Cabinets, Home Offices, Pantries, Laundries, and Hobby Rooms Call for a free in home design consultation and estimate www.closetsbydesign.ca 844-612-9943 OB 2013 © All Rights Reserved. Closets by Design, Inc. Follow us SPECIAL FINANCING FOR 12 MONTHS! With approved credit. Call or ask your Designer for details. $300 Off Plus Free InstallatIon Terms and Conditions: $300 off any order of $1198 or more, $200 off any order of $998-$1198 or $100 off any order of $698-$998, on any complete custom closet, garage, or home office unit. Not valid with any other offer. Free installation with any complete unit order of $600 or more.With incoming order, at time of purchase only. Expires in 30 days. 40%Off 40%off any order of $1000 or more. 30% off any order between $700 and $1000. On any complete Closet, Garage or Home Office. Free installation with any complete unit order of $600 or more. With incoming order, at time of purchase only. Expires in 30 days. Plus Free InstallatIon sPrInG sPeCIal Make yourself comfortable V for Vistamere Vistamere Retirement Residence is nestled in a quiet neighbourhood in south Oakville. Independent and locally owned, incredibly comfortable and reasonably priced. Come see it for yourself. BOOK A TOUR TODAY 380 Sherin Drive Oakville, Ontario L6L 4J3 905.847.1413 vistamere.ca Like us on As more information comes out about the CO- VID-19 pandemic, the world might seem like a scary place. As adults, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by what we read in the news, or see in social media. Shaun Baylis, CEO of Pathstone Mental Health, said children are no differ- ent from their caregivers. They might feel anxious or have questions about what they see on television, or from conversations with friends. Here are some tips on how to have a conversation about the coronavirus and what to say to your kids. KEEP CALM It's important to stay calm because children tend to pick up on their parents' feelings. So, if you feel ner- vous or anxious, it's best to wait to have a conversation with your child until you feel calmer. "If a parent or caregiver is grounded, they will cre- ate a safe space for chil- dren to feel calm," Baylis said. "If you panic or feel anxious, children will pick up on that." BE OPEN AND HONEST; LISTEN TO THEIR QUESTIONS Baylis recommends that parents not be afraid to dis- cuss the coronavirus be- cause kids worry more when they are kept in the dark. Give them an opportuni- ty to ask lots of questions and answer each one with appropriate information. Even if you think your child might not appear to be worried, it's important to ask them how what they've heard about the vi- rus and how they are feel- ing. They may be talking about it in school. "There are a lot of big triggers and one of them might be the closure of their school as a precau- tion. That may reinforce fear and children think 'Oh, this is really serious,'" Baylis said. EXPLAIN THE TRUTH IN A CHILD-FRIENDLY WAY When it comes to ad- dressing the virus, it's im- portant to talk about what's happening and not focus on the what-ifs. Stick to the facts, and steps to take if a loved one does get sick. HELP CHILDREN TO BE PROACTIVE WITH THEIR HEALTH Remind children how they can keep themselves safe. That includes remind- ers about proper hygiene, washing hands with soap and water, sneezing or coughing into an elbow or tissue and to avoid putting their hands in their mouth or on their face. REASSURE YOUR CHILD "It's important to reas- sure a child that you're tak- ing the proper precautions to reduce any risk," Baylis said. CONTINUE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS Encourage repeated chats about the virus and keep children up-to-date on what's happening so they can be aware and to stop the spread of misinforma- tion. A cartoon strip devel- oped by National Public Radio has been specifi- cally designed to teach children about coronavi- rus. The comic is available online at www.npr.org. Baylis explained it's a handy tool to educate chil- dren in an easy and simple way to understand. HOW DO I TALK TO MY CHILD ABOUT CORONAVIRUS? Above: It's important to be open and honest when talking to kids about coronavirus. Below: The National Public Radio created a cartoon strip designed to teach children about coronavirus. Torstar file photo SARAH FERGUSON sferguson@ niagarathisweek.com NEWS TIPS FOR HOW TO HANDLE YOUR CHILD'S QUESTIONS National Public Radio cartoon