Children are often soothed by touch. Touch calms the heart rate, and allows children to feel secure, so we can expect them to be more clingy and in need of affection at such an unsettling time. But if a parent has a cough and can't be physically close to their children - even teenagers - this will be exceptionally hard for them to cope with.

It is therefore important to maximise physical contact where possible. Encourage affection where it is safe to do so and keep them topped up with the security of warm hugs from those that can offer them. Where it's not possible, you could treasure their need for physical contact by taking their requests for hugs sincerely and "banking" them in a special jar with homemade tokens.