If you're looking for Tips for Talking to Your Children About the Pandemic then you've come to the right place. I've put together a list of resources for parents seeking advice on how to help children cope with the effects of Covid-19 on their lives.
I know I'm not the only parent struggling with kids asking why schools are closed on a daily basis. Who would have ever thought we'd be living such a crazy life because of a virus? Since I tested positive and my family was told to remain home indefinitely, I had to find out how to talk to children about the pandemic.
How are your daughters handling the pandemic?
My daughters are noticeably different since schools first closed on March 6, 2020. At first they thought it was fun, homeschool with Mom is the best! But then I became sick and retreated to my bedroom for almost two weeks. The girls weren't allowed to enter the room, let alone hug me when they felt scared or sad.
I am grateful my husband is an amazing Dad and really stepped up when he had to take care of them alone. But, they were still suffering without Mom... I've always been two seconds away whenever my children are sad, scared, frustrated, or mad.
Annabelle is six years old and has always been an emotional child, but able to control most of what she feels. For the last two months we've witnessed emotional outbursts on all levels. She becomes overly excited, unbearably sad, and frustrated to the point where she runs and hides. I read an article about these new tantrums and I'm trying to not get mad when she throws them. We are working with her to express how she is truly feeling, but I know deep down she is just struggling to understand the pandemic like the rest of society.
Ailey is three years old and since she could talk she's told us how she is feeling. She can verbalize her inner emotion - mad, sad, happy - and explain WHY she feels that way. What's changed since the beginning of March? Ailey has started sucking her thumb, a habit she never possessed even as a baby. Brandon had no trouble taking away her pacifier in September, so we know this is a result of her anxiety surrounding our life changing.
Tips for Helping Children Cope
- Let your children's questions guide you.
- Be honest and accurate with information. Any type of misinformation can cause a child to panic when they imagine a situation worse than reality.
- Monitor television and social media exposure - that's where children may read the most extreme information.
- Keep explanations age appropriate (see more here).
- Maintain a daily routine, incorporating school as much as possible. Allow your child to send letters to their friends or teachers. Keeping a regular schedule provides a sense of control, predictability, calm, and well-being.
- Focus on the positive and celebrate having more time together as a family.
- Teach your child deep breathing and meditation techniques.
- Offer lots of love and affection.
Now we are just a few weeks away from the year anniversary of the big shutdown. How have my children changed? They adapted to life - just as we all have.
Masks are the new normal. Big family gatherings are few and far between. Vacations are limited.
Our children are experiencing school a whole new way in 2020. From full-time mask wearing to social distancing with plastic partitions, classrooms look very different. The reason we chose to send our children into school is because our town is at low risk for Coronavirus cases. Also, my daughters were not the biggest fans of distance learning in the spring. We feel safe sending them to school each day.
Despite the changes in the classroom and school policies, my daughters are still excited to go to school. Personally I find it hard to believe my daughters feel as comfortable as they did last September. Day after day, they return home with a smile and tales of their adventures in first grade and preschool.
As a former first grade teacher, I know all about the need for social interaction in a classroom. During any class meeting on the rug, my 6-7 year olds would carefully watch my facial expressions – a smile for good news or a stern mouth for a behavior update. It’s very difficult to read someone’s mood by their eyes, but our children are learning this year. Teachers are going above and beyond to show expression behind a mask.
How Social Interaction Differs in the New School Year
A child’s favorite part of the day is when they can interact with one another. Whether it is buddy reading around the room or math games with a partner, kids look forward to being with their peers. They learn from their classmates and thrive from interaction.
This year Annabelle says she can’t work with a partner in class, but she enjoys playing at recess with her friends. The children wear masks on the playground unless they can maintain six feet apart. Despite the lack of classroom interactions, she continues to come home happy.
Both of my daughters are social butterflies with the gift of gab. They love their friends, but have been told, “Shhh” when their classroom whispers became disruptive more than a few times. I can’t help but wonder, Perhaps the girls will pay more attention to lessons if they cannot whisper with friends? Time will only tell for not just my daughters, but the children of our country.
Source: Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19
Make Learning Fun
There are so many stories, videos, and interactive ways to make learning about the pandemic fun. It's important to avoid inflicting any fear upon our children during this time.
Sesame Street and CNN talk about CoronavirusWatch the special: Sesame Street and CNN Town Hall Discussing Coronavirus. My daughters LOVED this special!
How will our children be affected in the future?
No one truly knows how the COVID-19 pandemic and the lost socialization opportunities will affect kids. According to Dr. Jennifer Wojciechowski, a clinical child psychologist at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital: kids are malleable and resilient. Dr. Wojciechowski also states “Worrying may not be the best use of our time at the moment.” She says, “Instead, parents should try to focus on how to improve each day for yourself and your children, and how to find joy in these small moments together.”
The best thing parents can do during this different time in our lives is STAY POSITIVE. Children pick up on the emotions of others, especially their parents, so I try to exude confidence in the changes, instead of fear. It’s also important to keep the conversation about Coronavirus open with your children. Dr. Wojciechowski advises parents to “engage their children in developmentally appropriate conversations and explanations… providing general information about the virus, explaining safety recommendations, recognizing and labeling emotions, and helping kids understand how to cope.”
My ultimate hope is our society stays healthy, our children stay happy, and the pandemic is nothing but a strange memory sometime soon.