 Hi, I'm Dr. Bronstein, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Kaiser Permanente. In this time of school closures and other disruptions to everyday life, many of us parents and caretakers may be wondering how to talk with our kids about COVID-19 and what to do to keep them and others healthy. It's natural to be concerned in times of uncertainty, and this can be a stressful time for youngsters. The important thing to know is, based on the most current information about the impact of COVID-19, evidence shows that children who contract the virus recover well and do not appear to have serious complications. The greater risk is in unknowingly passing the virus on to individuals who are considered high risk, such as the elderly or people with underlying health conditions. For example, a grandparent with heart disease would be at higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19. So keeping children safe and unexposed goes a long way to keep everybody safe. If your child does have cold or flu-like symptoms, it's important to keep him or her home away from crowded spaces and vulnerable populations. Keep your child comfortable and be sure to call your doctor for further instructions. Children count on routines, and big changes like school closings could be unsettling to them. Your words and actions can go a long way to reassure them. Talk with children directly about what's going on. Let kids know that children are not getting severely ill from the coronavirus and that they will be okay. The reason that they might have to stay home is because we are all doing our best to protect our friends and neighbors and slow down the spread of the virus so that more people don't get sick.