Playmobil

Playmobil

Amid the increasing spread of the novel coronavirus — also known as COVID-19 — distilling complex scenarios into easy-to-understand language can be tough for parents, most of whom are not educators.

While many resources are available to help, German toymaker Playmobil has released a new, 5-minute video in which ROBert the robot explains the virus and what families can do to make things better. Perhaps most importantly, the video explains why schools and daycares are closed, and emphasizes why it’s of paramount importance that kids practice “social distancing” and avoid contact with other kids. It just might be the most concise explanation out there for the youngest audience.

Related: Solve Some Mysteries with the Playmobil Scooby-Doo! Collection

For families looking for activities, tips, and tricks to make things better, the Toy Insider has you covered! We’re publishing content every day to help parents and caregivers navigate this stressful time, offering expert advice on everything from keeping kids’ toys clean to the best educational toys and great resources from reliable brands. You can also take the #FunAtHomeChallenge!

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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