6 Ways to Help Your Child Manage Their Anxiety During COVID-19 By American Psychological Association

           

image from ptaourchildren.org

     We are all feeling the stress of the changes to our 'normal'. Anyone who says they are not being affected is not being truthful. This statement goes for our children too; both young and old. We can do our best to shield them from the ongoing Pandemic, but the change in how we live our daily life can be missed by no one. Our Parent Book Study this week on 'Parenting with Love and Logic' made this observation even more clear. There was a lot of discussion around talking with our children no matter their age. The children that seem to be handling it best, may actually be the ones who most need this talk. 
      If you missed the first session, please join us next week on Tuesday at 8pm. You can sign up here. Also great news!  If you missed registering for the course, or know someone who might benefit from learning the Love and Logic parenting method, they have extended their offer for the Free Parenting Course.  Interested individuals now have until May 15th to register. Click this link to register for the course. (On May 16th it returns to regular price- $99.) 

The American Psychological Association has these 6 suggestions for parents: 

1. Remain calm and reassuring
Your children are watching you, even the smallest of babies can feel and see your reactions. They will take cues for how to respond directly from what they see you do. Be aware of your behaviors and think about how your reactions may influence your child. 
2. Be open and honest
Even though you may fear that talking to your child about the pandemic will increase their worries, bringing difficult topics into a conversation can actually help to quiet stressors, as children can imagine scenarios far worse than reality. Sharing factual and age-appropriate information will help them put the situation into perspective.

3. Keep a routine
Research suggests that children benefit from schedules and productive activities, so plan activities that will create structure and fun memories. Research has also found that spending time in nature has multiple positive effects on children’s physical and mental health. So it would be good for the whole family to spend time outside by taking a walk or riding bikes in the neighborhood. You can reread Your Friend the Daily Schedule from an earlier post by Mrs. Brun for more suggestions.
4. Managing Screen Time

In this unprecedented time, extra screen time during the next few weeks won’t hurt children. Flexibility is important, so don’t feel guilty about relaxing the rules. However, this doesn’t mean unlimited screen time. Caregivers should strive for a balance between digital and non-digital activities. For example, if a child spends time on a digital learning activity in the morning, they should take a break for a creative endeavor—like painting or baking cookies—or play a board game with the entire family. Parents should also monitor their own digital device use. Developing these habits now will continue to help children after this extended period at home and away from school. You can reread Managing Screen Time During the Pandemic from an earlier post by Mrs. Brun. 
5. Practice self-care and stay connected

With an increase in responsibilities and caretaking duties, you need to take care of yourself. Remember, you are modeling for your kids how to handle stressful situations. When you take care of yourself, you are teaching your children this is an important foundation for successful daily living. 
6. Behaviors during stress

When children and teens are stressed, their behaviors may change. Don’t be surprised if your children exhibit mood swings and problems with attention and concentration. This is the time to give your child extra patience and support. You may notice behaviors in children that may be cause for concern, such as your child making physical complaints. They may say they don’t feel well or have a headache, which may be their way of expressing their worry or concern. If you or your child feels overwhelmed, it may be time to talk to a licensed mental health professional. 

The APA has published information about resources:
Finding local mental health resources during the COVID-19 crisis. 

More help to manage anxiety: For additional information on how to manage anxiety and resources on COVID-19, visit APA’s website. For additional local resources. Please reach out to your School Counselor as a resource as well. You can find our contact information to the right of this blog.

Here is the above article in its entirety