在美国的许多地方.S. 在世界各地, children are staying home from school to help reduce the spread of the new coronavirus and COVID-19, 它引起的疾病. 虽然这是一个关键的方式 保持身体距离在美国，它可能会扰乱日常生活，尤其是对孩子们. And, 如果你是孩子放学回家的家长或看护人, there’s an added challenge of keeping your son or daughter calm — and occupied — during the unexpected break.

Pranita Tamma, m.s.D.是一名儿科传染病专家 约翰霍普金斯儿童中心, and 帕特里克·穆拉罗尼，m.s.D., 儿科运动医学项目的医学主任 约翰霍普金斯儿童医院，分享一些实用的技巧来帮助你和你的工作 孩子们的健康 在你们一起待在家里的时候也要活跃起来.

How can you talk to your child about the pandemic and why they have to stay home?

“It’s OK to let your children know that there are some new germs in the environment and that we all need to do our part to reduce their spread,塔玛说。. “你可以告诉他们，我们都还在学习, but that you are doing everything possible to make sure they stay safe and healthy.”

Tamma encourages adults to let children know they can play a role and help. Remind them to cough or sneeze into their elbow or a tissue, and to throw the tissue away. 教他们正确洗手, make it a fun process by using song to ensure they wash their hands for 20 seconds.

“Focusing on what they can do to help slow the spread of the coronavirus can help them feel like they have some control in an uncertain time,塔玛说。.

It’s also important to teach your children to be kind to others, Tamma notes. “让他们知道任何人都可能因病毒而生病, and that they should not make assumptions about people based on their race or ethnicity.”

如果你孩子的学校关闭了，你能做些什么?

学校停课，家庭居家, 很容易陷入暑假或下雪天的心态. As tempting as it may be to sit in front of the television for movie marathons or series binges, it's important to keep kids engaged in a healthy way while school’s out.

• 坚持时间表. 儿童和青少年受益于结构. Stick to their regular routines as much as possible, especially on weekdays. 如果他们有功课要做, 为专注的工作创造大块的时间, with breaks in between for a healthy snack or for playtime for the younger ones. 你也可以为家务制定一个时间表.
• 让他们的大脑忙碌起来. Older kids and teens can use this break from school to dive into interests they may otherwise not have time for. 鼓励他们学习新的东西, 就像一件有趣的琐事, 或者培养一种爱好或技能.
• 花时间玩耍. Playtime is a valuable way to maintain a sense of normalcy for your kids as well as to promote emotional well-being. If possible, spend some time outdoors by playing in the backyard or taking a walk around the block. 然而，要注意与他人保持健康的距离. 如果你的家人花时间在户外, 塔玛还建议带一瓶含酒精的洗手液, 酒精含量至少60%, at the entrance of your home so everyone reduces the amount of germs entering your home environment.
• 腾出时间交谈. 儿童和青少年 可能会感到焦虑或不知所措. Check in with them to see how they’re feeling and to address any concerns they have. 如果你经常在电视上看新闻, it is a good idea to reduce the amount of screen time that focuses on COVID-19 to help lesson anxiety. For older children, you might need to monitor their social media use. “Children are always picking up cues from their parents’ conversations and behavior,” Tamma notes. “尽可能多, try to remain calm and in control to help prevent your children from becoming anxious.” 

保持身体距离的孩子可以有玩伴吗?

Schools are closed to help promote physical distancing and reduce face-to-face interaction, 但如果在家不继续练习，这将不会有效.

虽然小团体比大团体好, 最好是尽量减少接触, says Tamma. “Avoid birthday parties and other social gatherings with your children’s friends, 即使只有一两个朋友,” she says, 考虑孩子们与同龄人交流的其他方式, 比如视频聊天.

你如何让一个儿童运动员保持日常运动呢?

由于COVID-19危机，体育活动中断, athletes are challenged in how to maintain fitness with limited training options. 儿童运动医学专家Patrick Mularoni, m.s.D.，为家长和学生提供 关于恢复日常运动的建议:

• Talk about what is going on and come up with a plan to keep your athlete conditioned and motivated.
• 跳出框框思考，对你周围的事物进行创新. 对着墙踢或扔球也是一种选择. 如果你的孩子不能从事特定的运动, they could choose other activities to cross train or that may develop similar skills.
• 像一家人一样走到一起，一起训练. 在网上或电视上找一项运动. 让训练成为家庭活动.
• 鼓励你的运动员和你或兄弟姐妹一起玩. The little brother might not throw or kick the best pass but that could be a good way to practice catching, 守住或接住球.

孩子们需要知道的关于Covid-19的5个提示

How can parents maintain balance when combining work and child care at home?

如果你是远程办公, setting expectations about your needs can help maintain a balance between work and home.

• 设定清晰的界限. Let your family know that, during certain hours, you need to focus on your work. Visual cues like a closed door can signal you are working and to not interrupt.
• 创建指定的“安静区”.” A common area like the living room or kitchen table can be a quiet zone during work or school hours. 它不仅对你有帮助, but it can provide a space for your child to engage in activities such as reading, 写作或绘画. 对于大一点的孩子, this is a great way to encourage them to read a book while you are catching up on your work,塔玛说。. “你们可以花时间一起工作.”
• 协调护理. 如果你的伴侣, 家里有一个大孩子或其他亲戚, develop a shift schedule to help manage care of younger children so caregivers can avoid burnout and attend to other household or work needs — or catch a quick nap.
• 一起行动. 如果你平时有去健身房的习惯, consider finding online exercise videos so you can maintain an exercise routine while at home. “You can even find online exercise videos that encourage your children to exercise with you,塔玛说。.

如果你孩子的学校或日托中心仍然开放怎么办?

Some schools and day care facilities are staying open until directed otherwise — especially for children with caretakers who can’t stay home from work. 如果你的还开着, check to see what procedures or precautions they have in place regarding hand-washing, 保持卫生和身体距离. 和你的孩子谈谈，确保他们理解.

如果你不愿意让孩子留在学校, contact the teacher or administrator about protocols they may have for remote learning, particularly if you or another caretaker can spend time with your child at home.

“这对我们所有人来说都是一个新情况，”塔玛说. “We need to work together to do our part in keeping our environment clean and limiting the spread of infection, especially to protect our friends and neighbors who may be especially vulnerable to viral infections.”