Coronavirus: Parents praise Playmobil video which helps explain outbreak to children

Short film aims to ease anxiety in young people and parents

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread around the world, toymaker Playmobil has launched a video to help children understand and learn about the outbreak.

The five-minute-long video, which is titled “ROBert explains the coronavirus to children”, uses the company’s colourful set pieces and familiar, comforting characters to relay information to children who might have questions or are feel anxious about the current situation.

The short film is narrated by Playmobil’s robot figure ROBert, who guides children through the facts in a non-frightening way, explaining why they have to stay inside, wash their hands more often and cannot go to school.

Explaining coronavirus, ROBert says: “The whole world is talking about corona. Corona is actually a tiny virus, this virus is so tiny that it can’t be seen with the naked eye, you can only see it with a microscope.

“It can cause fever and a cough but it can make older people, like grandma and grandpa, really sick.”

The video also gives children ideas of ways they can spend their time at home to ensure they still have fun, including listening to music and podcasts, making crafts, reading books and watching movies.

It also explains social distancing and the measures everyone must follow to help slow the spread of the virus such as not touching your face and sneezing and coughing into your elbow.

“The fewer people that meet each other, the slower the virus will spread. It’s very important so that our hospitals don’t get too full and that the doctors can care for all patients properly,” ROBert explains.

Short film guides children through the facts about coroanvirus in a non-frightening way (Playmobil)

“If we all follow the rules now we will make it difficult for the virus to spread and the sooner we can return to our regular activities.”

Playmobil says it hopes the short film will help to ease anxiety in young people and parents concerned about the impact coronavirus is having on their children.

“This movie uses Playmobil to help explain in a way that children can understand what is happening right now, what we can all do to ease the situation, and why it so important to avoid contact with other children and adults,” Playmobil said.

The video explains how the virus spreads and what needs be done to stop it (Playmobil)

The video has been well received on social media, with a number of parents praising the toy company for helping their children understand.

“Thank you Playmobil, this really helped my child understand about the coronavirus and why we are social distancing when we need to go out and why we are staying at home,” one person wrote.

Another added: “Thank you!! What a wonderfully well done video! Perfect amount of info as well!”

Playmobil character ROBert explains the pandemic to children (Playmobil)

A third person agreed, writing: “Outstanding video for children to understand what is happening right now. Thank you.”

While the video is currently only available in English, Playmobil has confirmed that it is currently in the process of translating it into different languages so parents around the world can share it with their children.