Twelve Talks to
Have With Teens
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Teens in Jefferson County report lots of worries about the new coronavirus (COVID-19)-- ranging from worries about the effects on our community and the health of family members, to feeling sad about their loss of daily social activities and wondering if prom or graduation ceremonies will be canceled.
Teens are faced with having to adapt to rapidly-changing events, closed schools and changing social interactions, while understanding their own responsibility in maintaining a healthy community.
We asked Jeffco teens what worries them about COVID-19. Here’s what they said:
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Not seeing friends
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The stress of online schooling
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Being stuck at home in quarantine
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If prom, graduation, sports, etc., get canceled
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Family members getting sick
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A lack of jobs for teens
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A lack of school meals
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The collapse of the healthcare system
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Facing racial discrimination
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Not being able to travel to see family
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Parents losing income
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The impact on elections and voting outcomes
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Widespread fear and how people are handling it
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A lack of groceries and other supplies
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Uncertainty about the future
As a parent or guardian, it can be hard to know how to talk with teens about COVID-19, particularly when we are anxious and don’t feel as though we have all of the information ourselves. Nevertheless, engaging with our teens in dialogue is important for everyone’s well-being. Be sure to remind them that we're all in this together and even though it may be quite some time before the pandemic is over, it will resolve, and life will get back to normal.
Conversation starters
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Send them articles or videos, such as Helping teens cope with milestones that never happened, then ask them what they thought about it.
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Talk about coping. Mention that you are glad they are exercising, helping around the house, schoolwork, projects, keeping up with friends, calling relatives, etc., then follow up with a question.
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Always admit that you might not know the answers-- and then talk about finding information from reputable sources.
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Even if I don’t know the answers, maybe we could do some research together. (See recommended resources, below.)
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Remember to work in your thoughts about “hype” or “myths” versus real information. (See recommended resources, below.)
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Ask Yourself
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Are you (still) validating how hard this is for your teen? Tell them directly that it’s legitimate to feel disappointed about missing out on time in high school, special events or other activities. They may feel a full range of emotions from worry and fear to frustration and anger.
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If you think they’d be open to it, share this coping strategies ideas page with your teen or complete it together. (Note: some ideas may need to be adapted to comply with current recommendations for social distancing.)
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Check out 5 Ways to Help Your Teens Manage Anxiety About the Coronavirus for ideas on managing worry.
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Are your rules clear? If your teen is resisting taking recommended precautions and/or is arguing with you about following the rules, consider sharing this article from a University of Colorado professor about Flattening the Curve.
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Hold a family meeting to talk about the rules of the house as the pandemic continues. The Boundaries page has some ideas for navigating these conversations.
Things to do
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Maintain or create a flexible routine with your teen that includes school work, chores, online socializing, meal times, fun family time (games? movies? baking?) and time outside.
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Help others. Brainstorm concrete ideas about what you could do to help others in the community. We are all in this together! Could you donate canned food to an organization that needs it? Could you FaceTime relatives or friends to check in on them? Could you help spread valid information sources on social media? Vist HelpColoradoNow for volunteer opportunities or to donate (supplies, money, blood or time).
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Make plans to deal with boredom: Like all of us, teens may get a little restless after a few days at home. Here are some ideas to help combat boredom:
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Make a list of fun (or productive) ideas like this one.
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Send your teen this list of at-home spring break ideas from Jeffco Public Schools.
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Jefferson County Libraries have a lot of free online content, including movies, e-books and music.
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Learn something new: Try Khan Academy or EdX which feature online courses.
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Go outside! This could include: going for a walk or run, playing with a pet, bike riding, stargazing, reading in the shade, or hiking.
Help
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If you or anyone in your family needs support dealing with feelings of isolation or anxiety, or any other mental health concerns, please immediately contact Colorado Crisis Services which provides confidential and immediate support, 24/7/365 on the phone 1-844-493-8255, text (text TALK to 38255), or chat online (http://www.coloradocrisisservices.org). You can call/text/chat about anything in your life that you feel you need help with or want to talk about.
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For general questions about COVID-19, call CO HELP at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 or email , for answers in English, Spanish, Mandarin and more.
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If you or your teen are concerned because your teen vapes, consider sending them this article about why quitting now is a good idea. Resources to help your teen quit are available on the Vape and Tobacco page.
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Help teens understand how social distancing is an act of social justice by sharing this article with them.
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For inspiration, check out these illustrations and stories created by youth to spread kindness and support while fighting racism and xenophobia surrounding COVID-19.
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For more information on how to help your family cope with the physical and emotional effects of COVID-19, check out the Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019.
Recommended Resources for Accurate Information
It’s very important to encourage everyone, including your teen, to access accurate, up-to-date information from reliable sources.
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For up-to-date, reliable information and resources about COVID-19 in Colorado, visit the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. This site includes concise fact sheets that can be printed out or shared via text.
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For local information, visit Jefferson County Public Health.
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Jeffco Public Schools’ COVID-19 response page includes information related to schools and school events.
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For information about the virus, go to:
Taking Action in your Community
Reduction of risk factors, and improvements in protective factors, can happen on multiple levels-- within an individual, among friends and family, by adjusting systems in places like schools or businesses, and on the policy level for towns, counties or states. When improvements happen on all levels, our teens are most likely to thrive. Here are some policy and systems you and/or your teens might be able to influence:
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Do your part-- and encourage others to by posting these messages on social media:
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Wear a mask & watch your distance
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Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it's your turn
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Wash your hands often
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Get tested & stay home if you're sick
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Be kind to your neighbors
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Support local businesses
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The amount and content of health education Jeffco students receive (including information about disease prevention) varies by school.
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Ask your school how they are implementing health education for all students. Ask if the school knows about Jeffco's Health Education Policy and related resources. Also, encourage your teen to take a high school health education elective.
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