Continuing to keep children and young people front and centre

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep across the world with a second wave here in Australia, we need to continue to keep children and young people at the centre of our planning, programs and decision making. As the pandemic is scary for us as adults, for children and young people it can be even more daunting. With Melbourne moving to mandatory face masks, some children have said it 'looks really scary when I leave my house, and I don't feel safe'. When organisations and policy makers are doing their best to keep the health, safety and wellbeing at the centre of their decision making, we all need to make sure we continue to think about what this looks like from a child and young person's perspective.

As organisation, sports fields and shopping centres continue to open, we are ensuring everyone is safe with posters, banners and hand santiser everywhere. Every where you walk you will be able to see a reference to Coronavirus and staying safe, but it would be great to see more resources and posters aimed at a child's height as well as in child friendly language. In recent conversations I advised some colleagues to welcome children and young people back into their centre by walking them through the entrance hall and explaining why all these big signs have been put up and educate and empower children and young people to feel and be safe.

Some simple things we can do - use the great child friendly resources that are out there, including the poster above, speak with children and young people to educate them about the signage and coronavirus, but mainly speak with children and young people about how they are feeling.

 Here's a great video to show children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_3gf85qhhI