From holding your child in your arms to walking her down the aisle, parenting is an everlasting process. As parents, our primary instinct is to protect our children. But doing that has become exceptionally challenging today, and the reason to a large extent is the rampant pandemic.
A study published recently found that most parents are concerned about their children’s mental health as a result of COVID-19. The constant scare of catching an infection, the risk of stepping outside the home, and the restriction on meeting other people have become extremely overwhelming. And many agree that it’s negatively affecting the psychological advancement in children.
In such a grim scenario, how can you help your child overcome the feeling of uncertainty and feel safe? Let’s find out.
Dealing with kids aged 5 or below
In an interview, licensed psychotherapist Amanda Fludd said that children under the age of five are hardly aware of the current situation. What they need is to feel secure and connected. She suggested that parents maintain a healthy routine by reading kids their bedtime stories, cooking with them, playing with them, or just chatting with them. These things are sure to make them happy and help in improving the bond between the child and the parent.
Robyn Mehlenbeck, an expert in child psychology, has similar advice and said that children under five also show signs of distress like any other human being. Parents have the ability to bring back their child to a normal environment by giving them enough love and time.
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Dealing with children in school
Both Amanda and Robyn agreed on the fact that school children are quite disturbed with the curfews and isolations, but the good thing is that they’re also open to adopting new traditions.
Robyn said that children at this age are more verbal about their problems and are more prone to getting depressed because of sudden life changes. She said that if you feel that your child is stressed, arrange more family-oriented activities or help them stay connected with their friends through Zoom or Skype.
Dealing with teenagers
According to experts, teenagers are the worst affected group among all children. They’re gripped by depression and anxiety, so they are the ones who need more connections with both parents and friends. Amanda suggested that parents should find out about their child’s interest and get them involved in those activities. This way, they’ll stay busy and learn something too.
Mehlenbeck, on the other hand, said that talking is the best way to understand teens. She said that parents should assign their teenage children duties, like connecting with extended family over video calls, so that they stay involved in family activities. Moreover, reminding them that this phase will pass will ensure that they stay hopeful for the future.
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Summing it up
Everyone is aware that these restrictions and curfews are in place to keep our children safe. And quite frankly, staying safe is the need of the hour. But the key lies in staying sane too. So stay positive and try to bond with your children so that we can together overcome this phase toward a better future.