AAP Voices Blog

I am here for you!

As a pediatrician, my responsibility in taking care of my patients extends to care for the well-being of the whole family. 

The dynamics of communication during this pandemic is very important. If it is done properly and effectively, it will have a positive impact on the people I provide care for.

I have been communicating to parents about how we as adults should talk to our children about this global tragedy, specifically in a way that helps them make sense of the information without causing them fear or panic. 

When I see my parents during well checks, I bring up the pandemic to see how the parent reacts and I touch base on how to convey information to kids. If the vibe is where I’d like it to be, I’ll move on. If I feel anxiety from the child, I’ll spend a few minutes speaking with the child too.

Because of the misinformation around us, we need to filter what our children are exposed to, ask what they already know, talk to them in simple language and explain what this virus is and how we can stay safe. 

It’s also important to keep a routine at home to maintain their mental and emotional health. Reassure them that there are a lot of people out there helping to figure everything out, like health care workers, first responders and scientists who are working hard to find treatments. 

My patients also know that if they need me, they have options: Office visits are still available, virtual visits via telehealth are also readily available. We continue to provide well checks and vaccines and we’re proactively calling patients with chronic conditions. 

We’ve also told our patients about the many changes we’ve implemented to maximize safety and minimize exposures at our clinic.

We are all in this together! Together we stand strong!

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*The views expressed in this article are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the American Academy of Pediatrics.