随着学校关闭和日常生活方式改变，孩子们越来越了解冠状病毒。他们可能尚未完全理解，也可能不知道如何认真对待它，但是他们的生活受到了影响。
Many parents are trying to decide how to talk with their children about the virus and the outbreak. Some say they are checking in each day to see how their children are doing. But others worry that talking too much about it could make their children more nervous and fearful.
很多父母正试图决定如何跟他们的孩子谈论这种病毒以及这次疫情。有人说，他们每天都在检查孩子们的状况。但是有些人担心，谈论太多可能会让孩子们更加紧张和害怕。
Nicole Poponi is the mother of 10-year-old Clara, and 12-year-old Jane. The family lives in Audubon, New Jersey. She said, "We talk about it a lot. I watch the news every morning, and they're always watching it, too."
妮可·波波尼是10岁的克拉拉和12岁的珍的妈妈。这家人住在新泽西州的奥杜邦。她说：“我们经常谈论这些。我每天早上看新闻，孩子们也一直在看。”
Both girls said they have talked about the virus at school. Jane said her teachers have discussed it during science lessons.
两个女孩都说她们在学校已经讨论过这种病毒。珍表示，她的老师已经在科学课上讨论过它。
"I'm not really as scared of it. It's still not even that many people getting sick here," Jane said. "One of my friends is really scared of it, but she's honestly really scared of all diseases."
珍表示：“我真的不那么害怕。我们这里仍然没几个人感染。我的一个朋友真的很害怕，但是老实说她对所有病都很害怕。”
Beth Young said she has decided to limit the conversations with her four children. They are ages 8, 10,12, and 15. The family lives in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
贝丝·杨表示，她已经决定跟她的4个孩子少讨论。他们的年龄分别是8岁、10岁、12岁和15岁。这家人住在南卡罗莱纳州的米尔堡。
She said she does not want them to be afraid of getting sick, because "kids get sick pretty often." And she does not want them to worry about dying.
她说她不希望孩子们害怕生病，因为“孩子们经常会生病。”她也不希望孩子们担心会死。
The new coronavirus causes a disease called COVID-19. For most people—including children—it results in only mild or moderate sickness, such as temperature and cough. For others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness —including pneumonia, which affects a person's ability to breathe.
新型冠状病毒会引起新冠肺炎。对于包括儿童在内的大多数人来说，它只会导致中轻度的疾病，例如发烧和咳嗽。对于其他人，尤其是老年人和存在健康问题的人群，它可能会导致更严重的疾病，包括会影响个人呼吸能力的肺炎。
Most people recover. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that people with minor sickness recover in about two weeks. Those with a more serious case may take three to six weeks to recover.
大多数人会康复。世界卫生组织表示，轻症患者大约会在两周内康复。症状较重的患者可能需要3到6周才能康复。
Child psychology experts advise parents and others to be calm and positive when discussing the issue with young people. They suggest centering discussions on active steps one can take. They also suggest doing research in order to answer children's questions truthfully.
儿童心理专家建议父母等人与孩子们讨论这个问题时要保持镇定和积极的态度。他们建议要重点讨论个人可以采取的积极措施。他们还建议做一些研究，以便如实回答孩子们的问题。
Dr. Jamie Howard is a psychologist at the nonprofit Child Mind Institute. She said it is important to reassure children, ask them if they have questions, and tell them how they can stay safe. The institute and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer suggestions on talking with children.
杰米·霍华德博士是非营利性的儿童思维研究所的心理专家。她说重要的是让孩子安心，询问他们是否有问题，并告诉他们如何保证安全。该研究所和美国疾病控制与预防中心提供了与儿童交谈的建议。
Some teachers and sports coaches are working to stop the idea that the virus is tied to any group or race. The new coronavirus first appeared in China. Some American adults are staying away from Chinese restaurants and businesses out of fear that they may get the virus.
一些老师和体育教练也在努力阻止这种病毒与任何团体或种族有关联的想法。新冠病毒最先出现在中国。一些美国成年人出于担心可能感染这种病毒，远离了中国企业和餐馆。
Seattle Public Schools in the state of Washington wrote on its website that misinformation has led to fear and anger. The school district's leaders urged students to combat racism and bias.
华盛顿州西雅图市公立学校在其网站上写道，错误信息已经导致了恐慌和愤怒。该学区的领导们督促学生们与种族主义和偏见作斗争。
"We are aware of reports that some of our Asian students have been targeted and discriminated against in connection to COVID-19," the school leaders wrote. "This is unacceptable."
学校领导写道：“我们知道有报道称，一些亚裔学生受到了跟新冠肺炎相关的针对和歧视。这是无法接受的行为。”
Parents should explain that measures such as wearing covers over your mouth and nose and closing schools are preventative and temporary, Dr. Howard said. She urges parents to follow what the television personality Mister Rogers used to say: look to the "helpers"—to see what doctors, teachers, parents and scientists are doing to keep them safe.
霍华德博士说，父母们应该解释说，戴好口罩，关闭学校等措施是预防性和暂时性的。她督促家长们遵循电视明星罗杰斯先生曾经说过的话：看着“帮手们”，看看医生们、老师们、家长们以及科学家们正在采取什么措施来确保他们的安全。
I'm Ashley Thompson.
我是阿什利·汤普森。(51VOA.COM原创翻译，禁止转载，违者必究！)