What and how to tell children about AIDS: tips for all ages

HIV/AIDS — a difficult topic to talk to a child, but bringing it necessary. No matter how scary it is for parents to think about it, even a preschooler can get infected simply by picking up a used syringe on the street. Teenagers especially need to know as much as possible about the disease, because some of them start sexual activity early. It's important to protect them. Children need to be told about AIDS already at the age of 5-6 years. The question is how to present information to a child, taking into account their age-related features of development.

• How to talk to children about AIDS in an age-appropriate way
• Learning to communicate with your children: 9 psychologist's advice to parents
• Highlights talking with child about HIV/AIDS

How to talk to children about AIDS in an age-appropriate way

Children live in a society, which means that one way or another they will learn about AIDS anyway: from friends, from the internet, from the wall newspaper in the school corridor. It is important that the information they receive is truthful, understandable and presented in the correct aspect. It is necessary to ensure that the child realizes that no one is immune from the disease, and the only way to avoid it — — prevention.

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Let's figure out how to tell children about AIDS at different ages:

• 5-6 years. There is no point in going into details for telling separately about HIV infection. It is necessary to instill hygiene and proper behavior skills. It is worth mentioning that there are terrible incurable diseases, but avoiding infection is not difficult. To do this, it is enough to use a personal towel, not take and don don to give your toothbrush to anyone, not pick up loose objects from the ground, including  syringes, needles.

• Primary school age. It's time to talk about the virus, explain how the immune system works and why it is important to protect it. Colorful metaphors, understandable images will do (they can be borrowed from children's books, textbooks on the basics of health, your child's favorite films). For example, the immune system can be compared to a protective suit, like an astronaut, and HIV — it's a "alien" that punches a hole in the suit and makes the body helpless against infections.

• Middle school age. 11-12 year olds should be told more about AIDS. They are already quite capable of perceiving medical information. Be sure to clarify how the virus is transmitted. The child should not be afraid to take a friend by the hand. Most kids at this age have heard about sex, so it's worth mentioning it too, but not intimidating. This will not give any positive result. It's better to talk about responsible attitude to health.

• Adolescents from 13 years. This is the period of puberty, so when talking about HIV, parents should focus on the sexual transmission of the virus. Here it should be explained how important it is to build relationships correctly, to behave with dignity with the opposite sex. You need to talk about & nbsp; abstinence, methods of barrier contraception. It's important to talk about fidelity as the best way to prevent AIDS, because condoms are only 85% effective at  %.

Conversation with child needs to be structured in such a way that understands you and are honest with him, don hide nothing, and are ready to answer any questions. Never intimidate      Then the child will confess to you if he suddenly pricks himself with a syringe on the street, uses someone else's toothbrush, or has unprotected sex. Next, you will have to act. Your main ally — epidemiologist at the local AIDS prevention and control centre.

Read also: How to speak sex and childbirth with children: advice from psychologists

Learning to communicate with our children: 9 psychologist's advice to parents

Here are a few tips that will make it easier to talk to your child:

1. Don avoid sensitive topics. If your child asks, answer. It will still get the information it needs, but you may not like the source.

2. Bring up the topic of AIDS as early as possible. Be the first person your child hears about the disease. Then all subsequent information will be perceived through the prism of your explanation.

3. Be the first to speak.Don't wait for your child's questions.

4. Give full and truthful information. If you do not have the necessary base, educate yourself.

5. Listen to your child. This is the only way you can get him to hear you.

6. Be honest. Any insincerity is not in to your advantage.

7. Revisit the topic often. This will help your child learn.

8. Be sure to consider age. If you tell a child of 11-12 years old that condoms protect AIDS it not the fact that he understands, because the very mechanism of this protection he still unknown.

9. Respect your child. This will form a high self-esteem in him, which will protect him from indecent acts.

Read also: Virus X: what threatens humanity

Many parents are still convinced that AIDS — it is a disease of drug addicts and prostitutes. They believe that it is enough to properly raise a child in order to protect them from a terrible disease. This is an illusion, and      it's time to part with it. Anyone can become a victim of HIV. The disease is very common and growing. Reluctance to talk to child about AIDS — This is parental irresponsibility. Protect your child!

Read also: How to speak so that children will listen and understand the first time

Highlights on talking with your child about HIV/AIDS

Communicating with children difficult topics — it is your parental responsibility. To better handle her, follow these tips:

• At 5-6 years, teach hygiene and correct behavior.

• At 11-12 years, tell us about the ways of HIV transmission.

• Explain to a child over 13 years old how to behave with the opposite sex, build relationships.

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Trust your child and he will trust you.

Read also: A healthy lifestyle for a student: what in includes 

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