VOA常速英语:What to Tell Children About the Coronavirus

Playgrounds are empty and schools are closed in countries throughout the world because of the coronavirus.
由于冠状病毒，世界各国的游乐场都是空荡荡的，学校也关闭了。7.2
Children are home with their families where they often see the same news about the virus that their parents do.
儿童和家人一起在家隔离，在家他们会跟着父母看到一样的关于病毒新闻。

Some of them might find it scary.
其中一些孩子可能会觉得病毒很可怕。

Its always important to start with the kids and find out where theyre at.
从源头就抓住孩子心理，并且知道孩子现在的心理状况是很重要的。

Ask them what theyve heard what they know and what they think and feel about these things.
问问他们听到了什么，知道了什么，他们对这些事情有什么想法和感觉。

Its always important to tell the truth in a developmentally appropriate way and we want to provide the kids with reassurance.
以一种适当的方式说出真相总是很重要的，我们希望给孩子们以安全感。

Youre not going to talk to a five-year-old the same way you would talk to a teenager.
你和一个五岁小孩的交流方式相比于你和一个青少年的交流方式肯定是不一样的。

But I think its also really important that they understand how serious this is.
但我认为，让小孩子理解病毒的严重性也是非常重要的。

Robert Franks took part in an expert panel on Newswise, a source for journalists.
罗伯特·弗兰克参加了名为智慧新闻的专家座谈小组，这个组织也是很多记者的消息来源。

He is the president of the Judge Baker Childrens Center which is affiliated with Harvard.
他是贝克儿童中心的负责人，该中心附属于哈佛大学。

Franks says its important for parents and caregivers to remember that children take their cues from adults.
弗兰克说，父母和抚养者要切记，孩子们从成年人那里得到暗示是很重要的。

They pick up on our anxiety,they pick up on our fear.
他们能捕捉家长的焦虑，他们也能获取家长的恐慌。

If were watching the news 24/7 in our house theyre gonna see it too and theyre gonna see the way we react to it.
如果家长全天候在家里看新闻，他们也会看到新闻，并且他们也会看到我们对新闻的反应。

As well as you know take our cues from us in terms of how seriously were taking social distancing.
孩子们会从家长这边得知现在疫情的严重性，比如大家现在都在倡导安全社交距离。

If adults want to watch the news making sure that theyre not doing it always in the presence of the children.
如果成年人想看新闻，一定要确保他们不总是当着孩子的面看新闻。

Its okay to have a little bit of the exposure.
但偶尔让孩子看到也没关系。

But if youre going to do that do it together so that you can ask your own questions and address any concerns.
但是如果你要看新闻的话，那就和孩子一起看。通过这种方式，你就可以向孩子问问题，并且回答他们的担心。

Eshleman says if children ask you questions and you dont know the answer,its alright to say so.
沙勒曼表示，如果孩子们问你问题而你不知道答案，你可以说你不知道。

This is a new situation that most of us have not experienced before.
当下面对疫情这种状况，是我们大多数人从未经历过的。

Carol Pearson VOA news Washington
卡罗尔·皮尔逊 美国之声 华盛顿新闻