Talking to tweens and teens

■ Be proactive — By having discussions at home before schools talk with your kids, you give them a good framework to operate from, and they are able to better digest the information they get in the community.

■ Ask what your children know — Once you have a baseline, you can guide the conversation. Use open-ended questions, such as, “Have you heard of coronavirus?” and “Tell me what you know about it.”This will provide insight into what they have already heard among peers, at school and from social media.

■ Manage social media usage — Direct children to reliable sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Warn them about misinformation on social media.

■ Remind them of what they can do to stay healthy — This includes (at least) 20-second hand-washing, getting enough sleep and eating well to fortify their immune system, as well as not touching their faces and not sharing utensils.

■ Reinforce that it’s OK to ask questions — Just because you’ve had one conversation doesn’t mean you can’t have more. Different individuals process information at different rates.

■ Saying,“I don’t know”or“I’m not sure” is OK — This is a good opportunity to talk with your children about being conscious consumers of information and doing research.

■ Be aware of your children’s feelings — Listen to what they are saying and account for their personalities and how they respond to situations. Consider working with a trained mental health professional to learn skills to address emotions and reactions if necessary.