No one in your generation has ever parented during a pandemic, and you may be wondering where you can turn for expert help. You may not know how to address your child’s questions or fears during this time, and you may find the emotions of your whole family are spiraling out of control. Decreasing emotional stress is particularly important for children whose brains are rapidly developing. However, with all of the changes in the world, your child may feel more worried than ever. Here are a few tips to get both of you through this difficult time.
Encourage Open Sharing
Let your child know that you are open to hearing anything about how she is feeling. Your child needs to know that her feelings are completely normal.
Use Empathy
Tell your child that you understand that she is nervous or anxious and that it is good to talk about these concerns. Reassure your child of all that is being done to keep her safe.
Help Your Child See the Positives
Help your child see how much she can enjoy this special time as a family. If there are new things that you are doing, such as wearing face masks in public or washing your hands more often, find a way to make the experience fun.
Keep Your Child Occupied
Avoid constantly rehashing the negative things that are happening. Keep your child busy with school, imaginative play, or other things she enjoys doing so that she can get her mind off the negatives.
Engage in Fun as a Family
Let this be a special time to do things together as a family. Institute a family game night or turn one evening every week into a pizza and movie night.