Many people are feeling overwhelmed from the effects of COVID-19 and the stay-at-home orders placed on many communities. It is important to be aware of and attentive to your child’s feelings and concerns during this difficult time. They may be struggling with unknown or heightened feelings. To help your child cope, here are five ways you can address his or her stress associated with the coronavirus.
Open and Honest Conversations
There is an enormous amount of information online and on the news about COVID-19 and the current situation. As someone your child trusts, open up communication with him or her with honest and accurate information. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends providing your child age-appropriate information that is truthful and helpful. Remain calm and reassuring during this time and be available to respond to questions or concerns. Helping your children understand the situation better and understand why we are all taking certain measures can help reduce anxiety levels.
Show Them Best Practices to Protect Themselves and Others
The National Association of School Psychologists suggests you explain terms such as social distancing and “flatten the curve” to your children to help them understand why families are staying home and why they aren’t going into school. Tell them that it is important to follow the CDC guidelines to keep themselves safe and to help protect others, especially populations at high risk of infection. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommends handwashing and encouraging your children to talk to you if they start feeling unwell.
It is also important to show and share with your child positive things happening as a result of this pandemic. UNICEF says it is important to encourage your child to look for the helpers. Showing them acts of kindness and generosity and stories of health workers, scientists, and other people coming together who are working hard to keep the community safe. This will help your child focus on positives and can be reassuring.
Manage Distractions
Distractions may be welcome during these uncertain times. However, it is important to create positive distractions and manage distractions such as social media and screen time. Both UNICEF and the National Association of School Psychologists say while right now it is okay to be lenient on rules regarding internet usage and screen time, it is also important to manage content appropriately and provide creative alternatives. Unconstrained access to social media, television shows, news programming, and online websites can increase anxiety and create confusion if children are exposed to misinformation.
The Greater Good Magazine suggests that encouraging your child to contribute to the household, through meal preparation, cleaning, or home projects can be helpful for both you and your children. It provides a distraction for them and helps you with household management. They also suggest planning fun family activities together, such as board or card games or activities out in the yard.
466096295
Empathize with Your Child’s Losses
In an interview with UNICEF, Dr. Lisa Damour, an adolescent psychologist, encourages parents to sympathize with students’ disappointments over cancelled activities or events. Teenagers are missing many key high school milestones, like prom or graduation. Dr. Damour says it is important for parents to let their teens be sad and upset. These are events that they have been preparing for and working towards their whole lives and for them it is a great loss.
The National Association of School Psychologists also encourages parents to pay attention and be aware of signs that their child might be struggling with anxiety. Signs of heightened anxiety include eating or sleeping disturbances, irritability, or withdrawing from family time. It is important to recognize that during this time, acting out might be a sign that your child is stressed or anxious about what is happening in the world. Parents should provide support and understanding during this time and if necessary, seek help for their child from a professional or school counselor.
Take Care of Yourself
The New York Times says anxious parents are more likely to have anxious teenagers. Children often look to their parents for cues and will model their parent’s behavior. UNICEF says it helps if your child knows that you are calm and in control. If you are feeling anxious or upset, you should reach out to a trusted friend or family member or your community for support and help. This also models for your child that it is okay to ask and look for help. Dr. Damour warns that children take emotional cues from parents and rely on their parents for a sense of safety and security. She says, “I would ask parents to do what they can to manage their anxiety in their own time and to not overshare their fears with their children. That may mean containing emotions, which may be hard at times, especially if they’re feeling those emotions pretty intensely.”
During this time, it is important to stay connected with your children, check in with how they are feeling, and to provide them support. Having positive, open, and understanding discussions with your children can help them understand and cope better during these difficult times.
