How do you help a child or teenager make sense of a global pandemic? A major new initiative is tackling that question head-on, empowering young people with science-based knowledge about COVID-19.
The Smithsonian Science Education Center has partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP)—a global network of 140 national academies of science, engineering, and medicine—to launch a new guide for youth aged 8 to 17.
Titled “COVID-19! How can I protect myself and others?,” the rapid-response guide is designed to help young people understand both the science and the social science behind the pandemic. Based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, its core mission is to provide actionable information that helps kids and teens take steps to keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe.
At Medicup, we see this as a vital tool for family health. Clear, reliable, and age-appropriate information is critical for reducing anxiety and encouraging safe behaviors. For providers on our platform, resources like this are invaluable; they can be shared during telehealth consultations to support parents in having productive conversations with their children. By educating the next generation, we are fostering a more health-literate society, which is a future we are committed to building.
Source: World Health Organization