While school closings are largely being dismissed as an effective way to curb the spread of the virus, in some cases they may still happen. If your kids are worried about the flu, it's important to project an image of calm (even if you're internally flipping out) and make them feel safe. You'll want to explain to kids that germs can make us sick, and that's why it's important to wash your hands. You can say, "Soap and water rinse away the little buggers so they can't make us feel bad." Small kids should be soothed with a simple explanation that there are different kinds of flu, and we should just keep up with washing up. Older kids, who may be scared but hide it, can be given a few more details but should still be reassured that their parents and our health officials are on top of it.