By Jaime Herndon

With all the news updates and headlines about Ebola, it’s natural for kids to be worried and have questions. Am I going to get Ebola? Do people die if they get Ebola? Is someone I love going to get sick? Many adults have questions, as well. We can help allay the fears of our nieces and nephews not by ignoring the topic if they ask about it when their parents aren’t around, but rather by talking to them in ways appropriate for their ages and listening to their concerns.

Children take their cues from adults around them – and they often see more than adults think they do. If they see adults panicking or acting fearful, they begin to think there is something bad happening, and their anxiety rises. They don’t always understand everything they hear, so when they hear about a patient with Ebola dying, they may mistakenly generalize it to anyone who is sick, even with a cold. Some kids might not bring up Ebola, and that’s okay – if you don’t think they’ve heard of it, there’s not necessarily a need to bring it up.

If you can, try to limit the amount of media the child sees and hears about Ebola. They don’t always have the cognitive tools to put things in perspective, and news overload can raise their anxiety. Things you can talk about with your nieces and nephews include the fact that doctors are working very hard to help people with Ebola and to help stop people from getting it. Review the ways they stay healthy and avoid colds and flu, like using tissues when they cough or sneeze, washing their hands, and not sharing bottles or cans of drinks. Help them come up with some ideas they can share with the family on how everyone can stay healthy this time of year. This way, instead of being fearful, your niece or nephew has concrete ways to help keep them healthy, and allows them to have a feeling of control over it.

Photo: Danilo Rizzuti,
Published: October 29, 2014