Learning all about the pandemic

Keith P. Dimog

THE COVID-19 pandemic has turned our lives upside down, including the children. But this has become a challenge for some, doing their own research or understanding of this dreaded disease. With the right information, children can become powerful agents of change in their own communities.

According to a UNICEF guide for communicating with children, there is a need to communicate with children in an age-appropriate, culturally sensitive, inclusive and positive way. To be effective, the communication must be interesting and engaging, the guide said.

So what some leading health scientists and child psychologists did was collaborate with writers, educators and artists to produce innovative communication materials like books, videos, infographics and comics.

Through comics and illustrations, children learn what a pandemic is all about, and make rather complex topics more meaningful to different audiences. Combining visuals with metaphors can become good storylines. They can both entertain and educate, and stimulate interest in certain topics like the pandemic.

In fact, these learning materials are more effective than textbooks in increasing interest in and enjoyment, especially among low literacy audiences. According to research, cartoons and comics can be effective when trying to explain viruses and how they affect our health.

But these are not only for kids, as some have been created for adults, tackling questions about the coronavirus.

The author is Teacher

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III at Dolores Stand Alone Senior High School