Children tell stories of social awareness
More than 20,000 stories were submitted by children aged from 8 to 14 from around Australia on the topic ‘A different world – living in lockdown’ in Oxford University Press and Storyathon’s writing competition and it seems the virus has inspired a sense of community and increased social awareness. The use of the word ‘we’ has skyrocketed in popularity amongst the young story writers, with a 129 per cent increase on the previous year.
   Words that have appeared in submissions for the first time reveal a vocabulary driven by current affairs.
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Tips for how teachers can talk to children about COVID-19
The virus has yet to fully go away so continuing to talk about it will be necessary.
   Honesty is always the best approach. We don’t know everything about Covid-19, but we do know that it is killed by simple hygiene. Now is the time to take hygiene routines seriously.
   Stick with the facts, and don’t be afraid to find out together, for example, by looking up an Australian government website.
   Focus on understanding the science behind the virus, and discuss the facts affecting the risk and cost of catching Coronavirus in Australia. Read more