Tips to Protect Children from Coronavirus

That was the day of 30th  January 2020, when the first case of coronavirus was detected in India. Since that day, several COVID19 cases have been reported across the length and breadth of India. Coronavirus has become a principal cause of deaths in India and throughout the world in the last one year. It is because the virus of COVID19 is versatile and changes its form very frequently. And doctors are also unable to find genes of this virus. But with most of the efforts of doctors, they started the trial of 3-4 vaccines. Now, teams of doctors and researchers are trying to find the best vaccine for this disease. 

But whenever medicine will be there in the market it is not implying that we don’t need to take precautions against it. We always have to remember that ‘Prevention is always better than Cure’. It implies that the virus of COVID19 is so deadly and harmful. If you become healthy after proper treatment, there is a chance that either you could again suffer from this disease or maybe this virus harms your internal organs very badly and leads to long term problems. From so many studies, it can be assumed that this virus affects youth more than children. But it does not mean that we will not take precautions for children. It is equally important in the case of children that they also follow safety measures.

How does the Virus of COVID19 spread among Children?

As per UNICEF’s report, the transmission of the COVID19 virus either by direct contact with an infected person (through sneezing and coughing) or by touching contaminated surfaces with the virus. According to UNICEF, it’s in very few cases that the virus of COVID19 was reported among children. But several recent studies show that the majority of children do not show symptoms or show very mild symptoms when they get infected with the Virus. Also, children can spread the infection to other children and adults as well. The specialists classified children into three groups- children under 5 years, children aged 5-17 years, and adults. They state that the infection of the virus was much higher in children under 5 age compared to the other two categories.

It’s our good luck that during this pandemic government closed all schools and all educational centers. Otherwise, transmission in schools appears to be affected by the level of community spread of the virus. In a country like India, where most of the children belong to lower class or middle-class families where they did not get enough nutrition. So, how can they afford an immunity builder diet? It’s the main cause that in India, the spread of the COVID19 virus is very common among children.  

10 Tips for protecting your child against the coronavirus

There are some basic suggestions for parents to take simple and reasonable precautions, which includes reminding children to frequently wash their hands, avoid handshakes. There are some science-backed tips for parents that they have to follow in the face of a coronavirus outbreak. 

1. Practice Good Hand Hygiene and keep clean your surrounding

The experts and public health officials agree that good hand hygiene is very important in the fight against coronavirus. Good hand hygiene includes not to touch your eyes, mouth, or nose with unwashed hands. Also, you have to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze. 

You have to make sure that your children wash their hands when they come from outside and before eating. You should teach them to wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You have to set times for their hand wash or set a timer in your phone. 

With Hand Hygiene, it’s very crucial to keep our surroundings germ free. You have to clean refrigerator doors, staircase railings, gadgets, and toys that are the most touched places and items in the home.

2. Dependency on Hand Sanitizer is not sufficient

The usage of Hand Sanitizer is not as effective as washing hands with soap and water. It does not disinfect all germs in our hands. So, you have to recommend to your children that they do not eat anything outside their home. They should keep patience to reach home and wash their hands properly. But in case your child can not wait to eat then you can use hand sanitizer without any stress. 

3. Avoid Hand Shakes, just say Namaste

To stop the spread of coronavirus, the government banned the practice of handshakes in places of worship and businesses. You can remind your children that they should avoid handshakes with outsiders. But it does not mean they cannot give verbal greetings to anyone. 

4. Buy monthly stock of essential items (especially for babies)

This recommendation is mainly in case if you are in quarantine and if you face a shortage of such items. These essential items include 30 days of diapers, wipes, and some medications such as Motrin, etc. You should keep a good stock of children’s favorite items such as pasta, snacks, frozen fruits, dry fruits, etc. So that they do not demand to go outside home unnecessarily. 

5. Keep shoes outside the door and disinfect your bags

As a parent, you have to guide your children to remove their shoes outside the door. It is because it can carry bacteria and germs from the outside. Also, you have to disinfect your bags and belongings outside the door as it may bring infection from the outside. 

6. Encourage your children to change their clothes, especially when they come from outside

The virus of COVID19 can freely float in the environment and activate when it comes in contact with the living body. There are chances that the clothes of your children may carry the COVID19 virus. So, you have to encourage them to change infected clothes and wear fresh and clean clothes.

7. Keep your children away from high-risk family members

The risk of COVID19 is more in older members or any patient in the family. It recommends that you should take extra precautions with high-risk family members. The activities like reducing contact, washing hands frequently, and avoiding hugging or kissing may protect your child from getting an infection. 

8. Boost your children immune system

You have to take your children to the park to reduce their anxiety and promote their health. You have to encourage them to exercise a lot because it improves immune functioning. Also exercising and playing outside reduces exposure to germs. While in gyms or indoor play areas, there is a high chance of getting infected.

9. Avoid highly-trafficked places

The novel coronavirus spreads via tiny droplets that are produced when a sick person breathes, talks, sneezes, or coughs. And these tiny droplets move freely in air and surroundings. The chance of getting infection increases when the infected person is within your range of six feet. So, you have to avoid visits with your kids where there are confirmed cases of COVID19. You also should avoid highly-trafficked public spaces such as libraries or malls. 

10. Do not read too much news

When you or anyone from your family continuously read or listen to updates about the health crisis, then it can increase your anxiety and panic. This situation can create a negative environment in your family. To overcome this problem, as a family member you have to keep your children away from too much of misinformation and melodrama. You have to alert them about problems but do not create anxiety in their mind. To reduce their tension, you have to engage them in their skills, hobbies, and funny activities. Also, you have to ask them to trust the people who are working for us and taking great care of us. 

These are some general tips for every parent: how can they save their child, how can they motivate their child, how can they improve their immune system, etc.