Talking With Your Kids About Covid-19

By Raquel Daniels GRANDcares Site Coordinator, Larimer County

During this month as multiple changes have been enacted in various states and cities for the health and safety of everyone, kids may be scratching their heads wondering what is going on?

As youth, many children are probably not watching the news similar to how adults would do to be informed but they are however watching YOU. Children are paying attention to their parents, their guardians and other adults in how they are adapting to this change. Observing changes in behavior as well as changes in routine may have children puzzled. Many children have started asking questions with a very common one being “why?” Why can’t I go over to my friend’s house, why can’t I go to school, and why are we staying home, among others that have disrupted familiar patterns of the past. At this point old routines have been thrown out the window and the time has come to develop a new normal.

Starting off with a new normal starts with a conversation.

What do kids know about Covid-19? Is what they know accurate?

Asking children if they have any questions or concerns will allow parents to gain more understanding of what children may be experiencing. Having an age appropriate conversation with children can ease uncertainty and worry. Children may experience anxiety from overhearing conversations or news reports. Parents can take this opportunity to be educational and supportive.

Below are three links for how to talk with your children about Covid-19:

https://nyulangone.org/news/schools-out-parents-guide-meeting-challenge-during-covid-19-pandemic

https://www.sfusd.edu/helping-children-during-covid-19-pandemic

https://www.uth.edu/news/story.htm?id=e5c159f0-11af-4091-9f1d-342b5a64583a

GRANDcares Update: COVID-19

Christine A. Fruhauf, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Effective at 5:00pm on March, 23, 2020 Colorado State University (CSU) moved all research to virtual operations until April 15, 2020. At this time CSU will reevaluate and suspect that they may have to extend virtual operations of research projects even longer. What this means for the GRANDcares Project is that in Colorado no Powerful Tools for Caregivers-Grandfamilies or the GRANDcares Youth Club program will be delivered. In an effort to follow federal and state guidelines related to social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we will not hold these programs until further notice. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Christine Fruhauf (PI) at christine.fruhauf@colostate.edu. Everyone with the GRANDcares Project team wishes you well and encourages you to engage in healthy self-care practices. If you have not visited the GRANDcares project website, please see grandcares.colostate.edu.

Spot Scams: 3 Tips to Protect Your Identity (& Money)

By Diana Juarez, Family & Consumer Sciences Educator, Adams County Extension

I’m calling from ABC bank. Someone is using your credit card ending 3456 at the grocery store. I’ll need to verify your Social Security number to stop the unauthorized activity of the card.

Before answering the phone, you look at the caller ID and shows the name of your bank. And the caller seems very concerned about the misuse of your credit card and knows the last four digits of the card. Does it mean it’s legit? No. It’s a type of scam.

How much do you know about the type of scams? Test your knowledge.

Which of the following are made-up words?

A. Phishing

B. Smishing

C. Spoofing

D. Smurfs

The answer is D.

Phishing is when you get emails, text, or calls that look or sound like they are from companies or people you trust. This is called phishing.

Smishing stands for short message service (combines short message service + phishing), is a text message masking as a company or bank with a link or phone number for calling. Scammers may try to pressure you into downloading malware to your smartphone.

Spoofing is when a caller manipulates the information on your caller ID display to disguise their identify. Spoofing may appear as a local number or a government agency to entice you to answer and provide personal information. The above example is a spoofing scam.

Tips to avoid scams:

1. Be skeptical about the caller ID. If someone is asking you to confirm personal financial information or asking for money—hang up. Report any scams to the Federal Trade Commission.
2. Check your credit report. It’s a good habit to check your credit report to confirm all your loans, credit cards are yours and not someone else. We get one free credit report, you may get it online at annualcreditreport.com. The three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion—you get a free credit report from each agency.
3. Informed Delivery® by USPS®-sign up for the program it’s at no cost. When you register, you will get an email of scan images of your incoming mail before it makes it physically to your home.