The Balanced Life, Huntsville Alabama

During this unprecedented pandemic, we all feel some level of confusion and uncertainty for the near-term future.  As adults, it is difficult to process the entirety of what we as a country are facing, much less explain to our children what is happening. 

However, during this stressful time, we as responsible parents should be transparent with our children to help them cope with their emotions and model healthy behaviors for them to follow. No matter what age, children want to feel safe and secure in their environment. We can provide that for them if we maintain our own emotional stability and actively engage in conversations with them about our nation’s current state. Below are some guidelines on helping your child/teen cope during this difficult time. 

• Explain to them what is happening on an age-appropriate level.  Children respond well to honesty and openness, but they should not learn everything from outside sources such as the news, which can sometimes give alarming in their constant updates.  Do research to focus on fact-based, helpful information and create a plan with your significant other before talking in depth with your child. Below are a few links to videos that are wonderful in explaining the virus in an appropriate manner and includes cleanliness action steps for kids to implement.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=TSkEwdzGbCA

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PkUlCIFE45M

• Attempt to maintain a sense of normalcy. Most children thrive on a routine and like to know what to expect on a daily basis.  While many things are out of their control right now (they can’t see their friends, go to school, eat at their favorite restaurant), try to focus on the things you all can control at home.  At a minimum, create a flexible daily schedule to follow including a designated time for homeschool and fun, carefree activities you can do together.

• Allow them to express their feelings. If you are not doing so already, this is a prime time to begin checking in with your child on how they feel.  Children may have all sorts of reaction to the virus—some may be anxious that a loved one or themselves may get the illness and then become very sick or some may be angry that this is disrupting their normal life and are confused as to why they have to distance themselves from their friends and family. Despite the feeling, validate the emotion, but take some time to differentiate with them about rational concerns vs. irrational fears. 

• Prioritize their health and wellness. Now, more than ever is the time to model healthy behaviors for your child.  To protect their physical health, you can demonstrate handwashing, wiping surfaces clean, and avoiding physical contact with other people.  Most of these things should be common in a household, but if not, creating a list for cleanliness may allow your child to become more involved in the prevention for your family.  Along with caring for their physical health, prioritize their emotional health as well.  Utilize many different self- care activities including going for a hike, keeping a journal, limiting time on social media/new, creating a gratitude list, etc. Use this time at home positively to spend time together and strengthen relationships within your family.

• Provide reassurance. Children may worry about how they are going to get through this or when life will return to their prior normal. The best way to reassure them is through telling a story about how your family conquered a challenging time in the past. This allows them to have confidence that this crisis won’t last forever and you all can work together as a family to build hope for the future.  

If you or your child would like more techniques to cope with Covid-19, I offer tele health services at this time. Please contact me at lindsey@thebalancedlifellc.com or by phone at (256) 258-7777 ext 104.