Talking to Kids about the Pandemic: A Christian Mom’s Response

With many schools closed leaving parents to homeschool their kids, it’s becoming a highly anxious situation for many parents (and their children too). On the surface, it may seem as if the pandemic isn’t affecting them, but deep in their hearts what they could be experiencing is fear or at the very least, uncertainty.

How do we talk to our children about what is on their hearts? The best way to help them get through this is through the Word of God.

Then Jesus told them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and [deadly and devasting] pestilences (plagues, epidemics) ; and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.

(Luke 21: 10-11)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And all the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:6-7)

You’re probably skimming this blog post looking for tips about what you should do and skipped over the scriptures above. Well, the answer to you how to talk to your children about the pandemic is in the bold texts above. You should explain to your child about what is happening: the Coronavirus is a pestilence, now you can’t explain what you don’t understand. If you don’t have a good understanding of this text, I recommend that you utilize commentaries and study this passage of scripture.

The second texts tell us to not be anxious. But “what does all this mean as it relates to talking with your child about the pandemic?” It’s not helpful to tell your child what is going on without telling them what God expects us to do in the midst of the situation. What is the opposite of fear? Peace. Where do we get peace? God. God gives us peace that passes all understanding. That means His peace doesn’t make any sense. In the midst of a pandemic, peace doesn’t make sense from a worldly perspective. But that “peace” is what God gives us when we put our trust in Him. God wants to give you that peace, but you have to rebuke the spirit of fear. Faith and fear can’t occupy in your heart at the same time.

We can be surrounded by a pandemic but choose to look up with hope because of we have the joy of Lord. We are called to do these things because we are Believers. With  everything we experience that the Bible talks about; our redemption gets closer. We have to let go of our grip on this earthly life. Jesus said, “if we give up our life, we will actually gain it (Matthew 10:39).

I know this title was about talking to kids about the pandemic and so far, I have not given any tips on how do that. But you can’t give your kids what you don’t possess yourself. It’s like when you are on an airplane and the flight attendants are going over the safety measures and procedures. They instruct you to put your oxygen mask on first and then put one on your child. We need to understand the Word of God before we can teach our children. We also have to have peace ourselves which comes from having a relationship with the Lord. If we are afraid and uncertain ourselves, we can pass that on to them.

So, here is the tip: spend time talking to God. Ask Him to give you wisdom on how to talk to your children. Then, have a conversation with your children about what God spoke to you. The Holy Spirit will give you the words, because you have spent time in His presence.