Getting back to school (face-to-face learning during COVID-19)
As schools return to in-classroom learning next week, we know that students, families, and teachers are busy preparing for the term ahead and may have some questions about how to keep safe this school year. In this Kids Health Podcast episode, our hosts Dr Lexi Frydenberg and Dr Margie Danchin explain what’s being done to improve safety and prevent transmission in schools, and what surveillance testing with rapid antigen tests involves.
They also chat about the benefits of kids going back to face-to-face learning and how families can manage some of the return-to-school nerves their children may be experiencing.
An update on Omicron with Dr Sarah McNab
For many of us, the new year has not started as we had hoped. With the Omicron variant so prevalent in the community and the start to the school year just around the corner, many parents may be wondering what the latest news is with COVID-19 and children.
In this Kids Health Info podcast episode, host Dr Anthea Rhodes is joined by Dr Sarah McNab, Director of General Medicine at The Royal Children’s Hospital to unpack the current situation with COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations in Victoria, how the Omicron variant is affecting children, the importance of vaccination, and what a Code Brown in Victorian hospitals means for the community.
How to do a rapid antigen test
RCH National Child Health Poll - COVID-19 testing in kids
Are you worried a COVID-19 test may be painful or stressful for your child? Seventy-four per cent of Australian parents hold this concern.
Watch our video above with Dr Laila Ibrahim to hear what we found and also tips to keeping children calm during a test.
View more information about the poll
A child’s guide to hospital: Why is everyone wearing a mask?
Is your child wondering why everyone is wearing a mask?
We know that explaining the importance of masks to your child may be challenging, so we sat down with Jazz and Nurse Kareena to talk through it.
A child’s guide to hospital: COVID-19 test
Having a COVID-19 swab test can be a bit scary for children and you might be wondering how to explain it to them.
Isla visited our Respiratory Infection Clinic last week for a COVID-19 test after she was showing symptoms which meet the criteria for testing.
The grade two student took us with her while she had her swab and told us what it felt like from a child’s perspective.
Thankfully for Isla, her test came back negative.
Healthcare for your child during COVID-19
While we are all encouraged to stay at home throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important that families still continue to access health care, when it is needed.
Parents and families should feel safe and comfortable accessing care at their local health provider, and should never delay visiting these services in times of concern.
Watch our video above to hear Dr Sarah McNab talk about the signs and symptoms to look for in your child, and when to visit your GP or nearby Emergency Department.
To check the status of the RCH Emergency Department, please visit our ED tracker here:
www.rch.org.au/emerg_rch/status
Telehealth quick step guide
Watch this video to be taken through how to best prepare for your Telehealth appointment with this quick step guide.
Talking to your child about COVID-19
Talking to your child about COVID-19 can be challenging, and we know some parents might be unsure about how to answer their questions.
Dr Margie is back to provide you with some tools on how to have the conversation and how you can support your child through this pandemic.
For more information please see:
https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Supporting_your_child_to_cope_with_the_COVID-19_pandemic/
To keep up-to-date with the right information on COVID-19 please visit
https://www.health.gov.au/ and if you are worried your child may have COVID-19 please call the hotline on 1800 675 398.
Answering your child’s questions
Are you unsure about how to explain COVID-19 to our child or answer questions about why they can't see their friends or grandparents?
Jazz from RCH TV gave Dr Mike Starr, a paediatrician at the RCH, a call to find out some answers to questions your children might have.
Jazz and Kareena talk about PPE
Have you seen people in hospital and paramedics wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)? It can look strange! Jazz tracks down Nurse Kareena to learn why it's important.
Kids ask Dr Sarah about wearing masks
Danny and Clara asked Dr Sarah McNab from The Royal Children's Hospital about wearing face masks to protect them and others from COVID-19.
Multilingual COVID-19 Vaccination messages from RCH staff
Our multilingual clinicians have joined together to bring our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community an important message about COVID-19 vaccinations. These videos are available in a number of community languages
here.
Research
The RCH National Child Health Poll is a quarterly, national survey of Australian households shedding new light on the big issues in contemporary child and adolescent health – as told by the Australian public.
COVID-19 pandemic: Effects on the lives of Australian children and families
In the Poll conducted in August 2020, we examined the effect of COVID-19 on the lives of Australian children and families and found that, despite the hardships, Australian families have found some silver linings in the challenges. Read more about these poll results below.
www.rchpoll.org.au/polls/covid-19-pandemic-effects-on-the-lives-of-australian-children-and-families/
COVID-19 testing in kids: What concerns parents?
In November 2020, the Poll investigated parents’ concerns about COVID-19 testing in kids, finding that Australian parents are in support of COVID-19 testing for kids with 79 per cent understanding the important role it plays in stopping the spread, however, despite these high levels, many parents think twice before getting their child tested. Read more about these poll results below.
www.rchpoll.org.au/polls/covid-19-testing-in-kids-what-concerns-parents/
Telehealth for kids: Experiences of Australian parents
In June 2021, the Poll explored Australian parents’ experience with telehealth for kids, finding that Australian families have found telehealth to be a convenient solution to the challenges of accessing healthcare during the pandemic. Read more about these poll results below.
www.rchpoll.org.au/polls/telehealth-for-kids-experiences-of-australian-parents/
Research briefs by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
COVID-19 and child and adolescent health
COVID-19 vaccination for children and adolescents
MCRI Research brief on COVID in ECEC
For information about RCH visitor guidelines and translated resources on COVID-19, including our key videos, visit the
COVID-19 landing page.
The RCH Respiratory Infection Clinic is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.15pm for walk-in PCR testing. Visit the
Respiratory Infection Clinic page to find out more about our RIC and children’s COVID-19 testing.