By Carolyn Manley, School Counselor
All across the world, school administrators and government officials have made difficult decisions about closing schools. We are in new territory and struggling to learn the best way to parent our children during these unusual and complicated times. Concerns about coronavirus grow daily, and these concerns can cause fear and worry for all of us, but especially our students. It is important to remember our children are looking to us for reassurance and cues on how to react and respond.
Here are a few recommendations to help guide your conversations and manage your family’s stress level:
Use your child’s knowledge of the virus to guide your discussion.
Check-in to see what they know, invite them to share how they are feeling, and acknowledge and address worries and concerns.
Consider the age of your child and his/her ability to process information.
It is best to stick to the facts, while also reassuring your child that healthcare professionals are working tirelessly for ways to keep us safe and healthy. Ask them to share what they’ve learned at school about staying healthy (hand washing and reducing handshakes or high-fives). Knowing preventative measures can help alleviate some of their fears and give them a feeling of control over their risk of infection.
Check-in to see what they know, invite them to share how they are feeling, and acknowledge and address worries and concerns.
Consider the age of your child and his/her ability to process information.
It is best to stick to the facts, while also reassuring your child that healthcare professionals are working tirelessly for ways to keep us safe and healthy. Ask them to share what they’ve learned at school about staying healthy (hand washing and reducing handshakes or high-fives). Knowing preventative measures can help alleviate some of their fears and give them a feeling of control over their risk of infection.
Limit media coverage to what you believe is developmentally appropriate for your child.
Even though it can be difficult to manage what your child will see and hear, it’s important to make an effort to limit exposure to the news.
Try to maintain a normal schedule as much as possible.
Children feel safe with routine, and maintaining a routine becomes more important than ever when there is a feeling of uncertainty or powerlessness.
Make time for fun!
Engaging in some type of exercise or recreational activity has both physical and emotional benefits. Have board games, books, puzzles and other activities available. Head outside and move whenever possible. Make cards for hospitalized children or senior citizens who are stuck indoors with limited visitation policies. Get creative and ask your children for input about how to share family time!
Even though it can be difficult to manage what your child will see and hear, it’s important to make an effort to limit exposure to the news.
Try to maintain a normal schedule as much as possible.
Children feel safe with routine, and maintaining a routine becomes more important than ever when there is a feeling of uncertainty or powerlessness.
Make time for fun!
Engaging in some type of exercise or recreational activity has both physical and emotional benefits. Have board games, books, puzzles and other activities available. Head outside and move whenever possible. Make cards for hospitalized children or senior citizens who are stuck indoors with limited visitation policies. Get creative and ask your children for input about how to share family time!
Stay Positive
With students now remaining home for an extended period of time, it becomes imperative to practice positive coping strategies while at home. Keep your home routines intact as much as possible. Since managing stress differs from person to person, think about your child’s interests and what works for him/her. Whether it is drawing, watching movies, singing, coloring or something different, it is helpful to develop a list of things to do to keep occupied and focus on moments of positivity. Adding meditation, relaxation/mindfulness strategies and exercise can be particularly helpful while stuck inside. Last, allowing students to express concerns while remaining calm and addressing those concerns is important to how your child will cope. As always, our children are looking to us to know how to respond.
With students now remaining home for an extended period of time, it becomes imperative to practice positive coping strategies while at home. Keep your home routines intact as much as possible. Since managing stress differs from person to person, think about your child’s interests and what works for him/her. Whether it is drawing, watching movies, singing, coloring or something different, it is helpful to develop a list of things to do to keep occupied and focus on moments of positivity. Adding meditation, relaxation/mindfulness strategies and exercise can be particularly helpful while stuck inside. Last, allowing students to express concerns while remaining calm and addressing those concerns is important to how your child will cope. As always, our children are looking to us to know how to respond.
Take some time for self care!
During times of crisis, adults tend to focus on how to best support their children but often forget to take care of themselves. This is a stressful time for all of us and we need to make sure we are acknowledging how we are feeling and remember to tend to our own needs. If we allow our children to witness us taking care of ourselves, we model healthy coping and teach our children how to persevere through difficult times.
Lastly, here are a few additional resources you may find helpful:
Talking to Children about Coronavirus
Parenting Tips for Coronavirus
During times of crisis, adults tend to focus on how to best support their children but often forget to take care of themselves. This is a stressful time for all of us and we need to make sure we are acknowledging how we are feeling and remember to tend to our own needs. If we allow our children to witness us taking care of ourselves, we model healthy coping and teach our children how to persevere through difficult times.
Lastly, here are a few additional resources you may find helpful:
Talking to Children about Coronavirus
Parenting Tips for Coronavirus
Especially in times of challenge, let's remember to do all we can to support each other, in whatever form that may take.
Carolyn Manley
School Counselor
Carolyn Manley
School Counselor
RSS Feed
