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How should you explain coronavirus to your kids? We asked an expert

With each passing day, it looks more likely that students won’t physically return to schools in Pennsylvania this semester due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And young children may not understand why.

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Channel 11’s Christine D’Antonio talked with a child psychologist about how to best explain to your kids about what is going on.

Dr. Abigail Schlesinger, Chief of the Behavioral Science Division at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, said while we're all trying to navigate this, there are ways to talk to your child to calm their fears.

According to Schlesinger, first make sure you as a parent or guardian are in a good frame of mind before answering questions.

“I think as parents we want to control this a little bit to make it better, but in fact letting the child lead and taking those small opportunities when they ask you questions ... as long as you're in a good place at that time, that's one of the best ways to approach this," she said.

Schlesinger said that exploratory approach is specifically helpful with younger children who may see things on television and ask questions.

Watch the video above for more from that conversation.