How to Support Your Child During COVID-19
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, everyone regardless of age has experienced some sort of adjustments in their daily routines, whether it’s the way we conduct business, the way school and education have transitioned to online, or the way we interact with family and friends while maintaining a physical distance. Sometimes we get caught up in new challenges we face from day to day, and wonder - how are we supposed to help our kids feel supported, let alone keeping busy, during this extended period of time being at home?
There are many strategies a parent can incorporate in their efforts to support their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. As our kids look to us and other adults around them, we must remember to stay calm and confident in navigating these unprecedented times. For children with autism, anxiety disorders or other special needs, extra care must be taken into consideration to help navigate through new routines and adjustments to schedules.
Help Your Child Understand What’s Going On
Be sure to use age-appropriate, relatable language and terms in order to explain what COVID-19 is, and how things might be different for the next little while as the pandemic goes on. Coping with the uncertainty of everything is difficult for everyone, though it does not need to be the case for our kids who may have an even tougher time adjusting to new social rules and norms. This is the time where super-mom or super-dad comes out - there’s no need for excess anxiety-inducing scare tactics when explaining safety measures and rules. Instead, emphasize the importance of being safe and healthy, and the different ways to do so. The amount of detail you decide to disclose should be age appropriate and as needed.
Specifically, help your child remember to:
wash hands well (for at least 20 seconds) and often
refraining from touching their mouth, nose, and eyes (or face in general)
keeping 6 feet away from other people outside of your family’s bubble
wear a mask or face covering in public places where social distancing is not possible (age appropriate)
Maintain Schedules and Routines
Children may feel frustrated, sad, confused, in addition to other emotions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These emotions may be amplified for kids that identify as neuro-diverse or on the Autism Spectrum, or those with anxiety disorders. Trying to establish and maintain a consistent daily schedule may help restore some normalcy in your household. Having structure in the day may help children feel more secure, and will feel comfortable knowing what to expect from day to day. When possible, let children know ahead of time of any changes to your routine ahead of time so that they won’t be caught off guard.
Keep in Touch with Family and Friends
Facilitating conversations with other family members and relatives, and enabling your kids to maintain their social relationships through appropriate means may also help in supporting your child’s mental health. Keeping in touch with friends virtually can help kids feel less alone and reduce any stress they may experience from not being able to see certain friends in the meantime.
You and your child can stay connected with extended family and friends through:
Text messages
Emails
FaceTime/Zoom calls
Social Media
Phone calls
Plan Fun Activities
Seeking out alternative activities to do in lieu of extracurriculars or camps which may be cancelled may also be helpful as your child fights the boredom of being at home for longer than usual. Helping mom or dad with preparing dinner one evening, planning a trip to the beach or lake for the day, or simply having a family games night indoors may mitigate the feelings of boredom and allow for some quality family bonding time. Encouraging your child to learn a new skill or work on an existing one may also be worth looking into - whether it be registering your child for an online coding workshop, or helping them learn a new language through a mobile app.
For more resources on COVID-19 for parents and children, please visit:
