teach kids about being sick with help from disney Junior

This time in our lives is unprecedented. Schools are closed for weeks (and in some cities until the end of the school year) and news headlines certainly sound scary to adults and most likely even scarier to kids. That's why it is good to talk to kids about what is going on in the world with age appropriate language. If you have a preschooler who wants to know why they aren't going to school or a toddler who is begging to go to the library for story time (even if week after week she kicked and screamed the whole way there) you can use their favorite Disney Junior characters to help explain what it means when someone is sick and why we are actively trying to avoid getting sick.

Teach Kids About Being Sick with Help from Disney Junior

Let me start by saying I am not a medical professional (nor do I play one on TV) and I'm not here to offer any advise on what exactly to say to your children when it comes to Coronavirus.

​All I'm offering is a list of episodes of Disney Junior shows that are currently streaming on Disney+ that center around characters being sick and/or going to the doctor. How you chose to talk with your children about our current situation is 100% up to you.

​I know, some parents might be trying to avoid screen time but sometimes we  need a break or we need a visual aid to help our littles understand a concept. When it comes to talking about Coronavirus and describing what being sick means, it's possible that one of these episodes will help them understand a little bit more.

Fancy Nancy

Season 1, Episode 10 - "Mademoiselles Mom". Nancy's mom is sick and Nancy tries to take over the housework.

Handy Manny

Season 1, Episode 18 - "Manny's Sick Day". Manny is sick (he's coughing and sneezing) and his tools decide to try and take care of him.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Season 1, Episode 18 - "Minnie Red Ridding Hood". Minnie sets off to bring soup to a sick Goofy.
Season 1, Episode 25 - "Doctor Daisy M.D". The gang plays pretend doctor so Daisy can earn her "Pretend Dr. sticker". 

Muppet Babies

Season 1, Episode 13 - "Doctor Fozzie". The Muppet babies play pretend hospital and Dr. Fozzie has too many patients.

Puppy Dog Pals

Season 2, Episode 28 - "Arf-choo!". In this episode A.R.F is in a sick state after a failed reboot

Vampirina

Season 1, Episode 13 - "Batty Fever". In this episode Vee, Boris and Oxana are all sick.

Bonus: Frozen Fever

This Frozen short originally played ahead of the live action remake of Cinderella in theaters but has since been added to the compilation film "Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection".

Summary: Its Anna's birthday and Elsa is ready to make up for all the birthdays Elsa missed while the girls were apart. The only problem is, Elsa has a cold. She is doing her best to power through but it is clear to Anna that Elsa needs some rest. 


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Wash Your Hands with Doc Mcstuffins

You may have noticed I left off Doc from this list. Well, her entire show is based around playing doctor and fixing her sick toys.

Literally pick any episode at random and there's a doctor reference, a boo of some kind and how the characters deal with it. Doc McStuffins is a wonderful show and I highly recommend it but I was not going to list out every single episode.

That being said, I would like to draw your attention to a particular song of Doc's; Wash Your Hands. This is a fun way to explain to toddlers and preschoolers the importance of hand washing. 

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Other Disney Resources

If you are looking for ways to occupy your your own mind while stuck at home, Disney has been steadily releasing wonderful virtual content.

Learn to Draw Mickey Mouse and find links for other "Learn to Draw" clips
Take lessons from Imagineering in a Box, a one of a kind, FREE online series of focused on theme park design and imagineering

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