COVID-19 and your child
COVID-19 is an illness caused by a coronavirus. Human coronaviruses are common and are typically associated with mild illnesses, similar to the common cold.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms may be very mild or more serious. Symptoms usually start within 5 days of exposure to the virus, but may take up to 10 days to appear. Symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
Children with certain chronic conditions may have more severe COVID-19 disease than healthy children.
How can I protect my family?
The Canadian Paediatric Society urges all eligible children and youth 6 months of age and older to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to them. Children are unlikely to get very sick if they have all recommended vaccine doses.
The vaccine is safe. All vaccines go through a very specific and scientifically strict process of testing and review to make sure they are safe and effective.
Encourage your child to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by teaching them to do the same things everyone should do to stay healthy:
- Wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Follow local public health advice on wearing masks and social distancing in indoor public places. Recommendations may be different in some places depending on the levels of COVID-19 infections in that area. Regardless, you may want to have your child wear a mask if they have a chronic condition that makes them more at risk for severe COVID-19 infection.
- Clean frequently touched objects and surfaces.
- Sneeze and cough into your sleeve.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Avoid contact with people who have colds or are coughing.
What should I do if I think my child is sick?
Children who have mild COVID-19 symptoms are able to stay at home with a caregiver throughout their recovery without needing hospitalization. You do not need to take your child to the emergency room with mild symptoms.
Get medical advice if your child is not drinking well, has a high fever, has trouble breathing, or if symptoms continue or worsen.
DO NOT call 911 unless it is an emergency.
I have heard of an inflammatory illness possibly linked to COVID-19 in kids. Should I be concerned?
A hyper inflammatory illness (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children [MIS-C]) has been reported in a small number of children a few weeks after having COVID-19. Some children develop symptoms like a fever that lasts at least 3 days, pink eyes, rashes, swollen hands and feet and severe stomach pain. Researchers believe that symptoms may be a delayed inflammatory response to the virus.
The best way to prevent MIS-C is for all eligible children to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
I just had a baby. Can people come visit?
For young infants, avoiding all respiratory viruses is important. Consider fewer visitors, encourage regular handwashing and mask wearing. Ask friends and family not to visit if they feel sick. You can also contact your local public health authority for more guidance.
How can I talk to my child about COVID-19?
An infectious disease outbreak such as COVID-19 can be hard for children and teens to cope with and understand. How your child or teen responds will depend on their age, temperament, and developmental level. Please consult our resource, Helping children and teens cope with stressful public events, for more guidance.
There are a few specific things you can do and say to build your child’s resilience:
- Reassure your child that many doctors, nurses, and scientific experts around the world are working hard to keep us safe and healthy.
- Let them know that a vaccine became available very quickly and many people are now protected from severe infection. Health care providers know how to take care of people who have severe infection.
- Children are observant and pick up on our expressions and emotions. Help them to understand, verbalize and organize their own feelings around the pandemic.
- Find out what they know and correct any misinformation about COVID-19.
- Be honest, but positive. Reinforce that they are unlikely to get very sick, but that it is still important that they do their part to protect themselves and their families -- especially those who are at higher risk.
- Be mindful of your child’s exposure to the news. Model good media habits and try to limit the news running in the background. Explore child-appropriate options and watch together.
Resources you can trust
Information about COVID-19 for families:
- COVID-19 vaccine for children and youth (Canadian Paediatric Society)
- Masks and children during viral season (Canadian Paediatric Society)
- Handwashing for parents and children (Canadian Paediatric Society)
- Hand sanitizers: Promoting safe use by children (Canadian Paediatric Society)
- A parent’s guide to health information on the Internet (Canadian Paediatric Society)
- Caring for your child if you think they might have COVID-19 (ECHO & ARCHE)
- Five questions parents can ask to make sense of COVID-19 information (Canadian Medical Association)
- The CARD System for Coping with fears and anxiety (AboutKidsHealth.ca by The Hospital for Sick Children)
- Helping children through a COVID-19 test (BC Children's Hospital)
Children with special health needs:
- Type 1 diabetes and COVID-19 (Canadian Paediatric Society)
- Paediatric asthma and COVID-19 (Canadian Paediatric Society) - Inhaler dose tracking sheet (BC's Children's Hospital)
- COVID-19 information and resources for families (Autism Speaks)
Along with your local public health agency, follow these sources for up to date clinical information:
- Coronavirus disease (Public Health Agency of Canada)
- Provincial and territorial resources for COVID-19 (Public Health Agency of Canada)
Reviewed by the following CPS committees
- Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee
- Public Education Advisory Committee
Last updated: July 2022