Academic tries to help children understand the importance of the Covid-19 safety message

Researchers at a Lancashire university are trying to find the best way to give children news, important facts and safety tips about coronavirus.
Researchers are trying to find the bets way to tell children about coronavirus and the importance of staying homeResearchers are trying to find the bets way to tell children about coronavirus and the importance of staying home
Researchers are trying to find the bets way to tell children about coronavirus and the importance of staying home

Child health researchers at Edge Hill are working on the project with counterparts from Keele University and are appealing for families to help them.

They say that although information is already being circulated to help youngsters learn about Covid-19, it is not clear whether these messages are reaching all children and if they really understand why it is important to stay at home.

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The project is being led by Edge Hill's professor in child health literacy, Lucy Bray and she wants both parents and children to get involved.

She has worked with children for more than 20 years and said: " This is such an important project as many children do not fully understand why they are being told to stay at home.

"There have been big changes to their lives and many are feeling uncertain and worried. If we can find out what children want to know about coronavirus and how they are accessing information, then more child-friendly information can be targeted to reach them."

The professor added: " We also know that parents can face challenges in knowing how much and what information to share with their children about Covid-19.

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"We want to find out how parents are dealing with this too so that any barriers can be overcome."

This project has been developed with children from The Forum@Alder Hey and The Patient Information Forum, a leading charity for patient information.

Jo Protheroe, professor of general practice at Keele University and chairman of health literacy UK, added: "It is really important that we pay attention to what messages children are picking up and where they get them from.

“This way we can support the development of good health literacy which will have a lifelong effect."

Anyone wanting to take part can access the survey at :The link for parents is www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/parentscoronavirussurvey and for children, www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/childrencoronavirussurvey

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