The ongoing outbreak of the covid-19 virus has created a new challenge for parents and brought upon instability and uncertainty to households; especially for those working from home. With schools having transitioned to online learning and extracurricular activities being suspended, this adds even further complexity.
Everyone deals with stress in different ways and people respond differently. Thus it is important for parents to know when their children may be feeling stress and to help them learn ways to cope with it. During these rough and confusing times, children need communication and a nurturing home more than ever. Children also need to be stimulated and entertained. Their mental health is as important as, if not more than, their physical health. It might be hard for them to understand why they are still not allowed to go back to school, to see their friends and relatives, or why they are not allowed to play with friends.
According to psychologists, the most important factor is the need for children to feel that they are being heard. Avoid answering with phrases like “it’s okay,” and “don’t worry,” because they tend to make them feel like they’re not being heard or understood. Instead, engage in a discussion that is age-appropriate.
Here are some tips to help support you and your children during these tough times:
Keep a Regular Routine
With quarantine becoming our new norm, it is essential to maintain structured and consistent daily routines. Children feel safer when they know what’s coming next.
Make a Plan For The Day
Ask your children what they’d like to do for the day. Set a schedule for learning and allocate time for playing, studying, and resting. Make sure it is fun!
Stay Fit and Get Moving
Try to do some workouts at home. Keep healthy eating habits and get enough sleep. Ask your children to help with household chores. Try to take a walk around the neighborhood for some fresh air while practicing social distancing.
Limit Screen time
Get your children to earn their screen time. You can ask them to tidy up their room in exchange for an hour of games or TV. Make sure to observe what they are watching and that you raise awareness about the dangers of the internet. Ensure that all screens are off at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
Quality Time
Be intentional about having quality time with your children. Talk to them, cuddle with them and watch movies together. Express your love to them and how proud you are of who they are. Let them know that their safety is the most important thing for you.
Emotional Wellbeing
Address their feelings, ask them questions, and answer them with honesty. Reassure them that you are doing your best to keep them safe from this virus. Support teenagers with facts. However, limit how much news they read or watch, including social media. Make sure they know that they can ask you questions at any time.
Working from Home
Struggling between tending to your kids’ needs and focusing on your work? You don’t have to fill every moment with a specific activity! Schedule some “quiet time” or “your choice,” where they get to choose what they want to do with this time (excluding screen time). Explain to your children that during your “working time” you need to be able to focus on your work and they cannot interrupt you.
Some activities to keep your children busy and entertained:
– Art activities like drawing and coloring
– Making shapes with playdough
– Puzzles
– Hand crafts
– Simple and safe science experiments
– Dress up and wearing costumes
– Playing charades
– Playing video games with friends
– Bake or cook together. Try enjoying the meal in the garden
– Take a virtual tour of museums (The Louvre Museum for example)
– Watch cartoons or documentaries together
– Encourage literacy by reading books
– Make short funny videos together for fun
It’s of utmost importance that you find a balance between acknowledging your children’s mental health and considering your own well-being too. Looking after yourself is paramount and you can do so by reading, spending some time alone, exercising or pampering yourself. Remember, these are unusual and unprecedented circumstances so don’t be too hard on yourself. Just do your best, and avoid talking politics or about the financial crisis in front of them.
