Supporting your Child During COVID-19
In all honesty, I am not sure how to start this post. COVID-19 has been on everyone’s mind for the last couple of months. Along with the pandemic comes a lot of feelings and emotions. Anger, anxiety, grief, sadness, worry, loneliness to name a few. As adults, many of us have learned the importance of self-care. The ability to seek what we need in order to support our personal well-being. In a world, that for so many, has been turned upside down as adults we are seeking new ways to support ourselves and our families.
Our children’s world has been turned upside down just as much as ours has been. However, many of them don’t yet have the skills or ability to seek self-care and many children struggle with understanding what has turned their world upside. How can we support them? How can we help them learn self-care?
Create a Routine. Children thrive with routine. The virus has closed schools and canceled activities. The routines that children are so used and rely on have been stripped from them. One way to help bring routine back to your children’s life is by creating a daily schedule. It can be simple, each morning write out what is occurring that day in the order that it will occur. For younger children draw pictures. This allows them to know what to expect as well as provides structure to their day.
Give Choices. Children can no longer see friends or attend parties. Their lives at home consist of a mostly adult-run world. Where children lack control. Their lives as they know are dramatically changing, give them choices so they feel a sense of control over their situation. Do you want to wear the red socks or the blue socks? You can pick what type of fruit we get for our weekly shopping this week. Let’s watch a family movie- you can pick which movie.
Say Yes When you Can. COVID-19 has created a lot of well-due anxiety. Often when we experience anxiety, we tighten our bubble and find ourselves saying no. In this time of a pandemic there are so many things are children can’t do, I encourage you to try to say yes to them when you can. Getting glitter out-sure why not! Popcorn and a movie on a rainy Monday- of course! Making mud pies- anytime! Look for ways to encourage them and help them enjoy an otherwise trying time. Not only will they feel better, the positivity can help you too!
Provide time for play. Children learn and process through play. Allow time for them to be creative and participate in unstructured activities. (Even if you schedule the free play on their daily schedule). As you watch them play, you will be amazed to see what they have picked up on and how aware of the world they are.
Teach calming skills. Lack of routine and no sense of control often cause children anxiety. Anxiety can manifest in various behaviors. This is an opportunity to teach mindfulness and calming skills. I love the book Breathe Like a Bear by Kira Willey. It is child centered with lovely pictures. A great way to start or end your day!
As we all endure this adventure together, I will be posting more tips and techniques to help you and your children navigate this every changing time!