How to Explain HIV to Children

HIV can be a challenging concept to relate to children. It requires addressing some adult behaviors and also addressing how diseases are (and are not) transmitted. When talking to children about HIV, it is important to use age appropriate information based in fact. It is important ahead of time to educate yourself on the points you are going to discuss so that you can explain this information clearly and truthfully and so that you can be prepared to field questions that may be posed to you.

Instructions

Explaining HIV to Children

• 1

  Consider the age of your audience and make decisions about what information to include based on this. Remember that, even when addressing young children, you should not use euphemisms or misinformation.

• 2

  Tell children how HIV can contracted. HIV is transmitted primarily through unprotected sex, sharing needles, and from a pregnant or nursing mother to child, according to Avert.org. When you address sexual activity and the use of injection drugs, use morally neutral language. Always use the real name for things. By telling children how HIV is transmitted, you can also teach them how to protect themselves: through the use of condoms and by not sharing needles. Even if the children you are talking to are not having sex or using drugs, this information, especially if repeated periodically, can help them protect themselves when they are making choices in the future.

• 3

  Inform children of ways in which it is not possible to contract HIV. You can't contract HIV from playing with or being around someone who is HIV-positive, through sharing things like glasses or silverware, by coughing or sneezing, through tears, saliva or urine, or from a bug bite. Encourage children to have interactions with HIV-positive people like classmates, friends or family members; let them know that being around HIV-positive people is safe and that deserve to be treated just like anyone else.

• 4

  Let children know what HIV does. Children may not be able to handle specific information about how HIV impacts the human body, but you could introduce the concept of the immune system, which is the body's natural way of keeping itself safe from infection. When a person has HIV, this defense breaks down, meaning that they get sick more often and more severely than people who do not have HIV.

• 5

  Explain to children the difference between HIV and AIDS. HIV is a virus, a tiny particle which is not alive but can make you sick when you are infected. AIDS is a syndrome, meaning a group of related medical conditions that is caused by infection with HIV. AIDS is the last stage of HIV disease. Tell children that, although there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, there are medications that can be used to help people with HIV live longer and healthier lives.