In this current climate, many of our conversations have been drawn into topics such as outbreaks, illness, death and the loss of our previous sense of routine and normalcy.
Children are being exposed to a high level of information and are also seeing their parents and adults around them showing signs of stress and anxiety. As well as all of this occurring, their routines are being changed and research shows that children thrive on routine of everyday life.
It would be normal to try and shield our children from the events and chaos that is occurring around them, however research also suggests that even a 2 year old child is aware of changes around them. With this information it is important that we filter our discussions and topics to suit the age of your children to ensure that we are not allowing undue stress and anxiousness to occur in this already unsettling time. Families need to ensure that they are communicating about the current situation with Covid-19 in a way that allows children to have a significant understanding, without promoting panic. If young people are not given sufficient information, this can lead to them trying to fill in the gaps themselves, leading to misinformation and possibly overestimating the situation.
It is important to note that children are resilient creatures and during this time, it has been amazing to observe children’s responses to this ever changing world. Feeling connected to their peers in a new medium is also something that many families have chosen to grasp and it has been wonderful to see so many parents encouraging apps such as Facetime or Microsoft Teams, to ensure that children are feeling connected to their friends.
It is even more important in this current climate that we ensure that children are having the downtime that they need to be able to relax and “switch off”. The following is some tips and hints that might be useful in your home during this current season:
Ensure that your child is not over exposed to news outlets and if they have questions about the current situation, ensure that you are honest and provide suitable information for your child’s age group.
Utilise software that can give your child the opportunity to keep in touch and feel connected to their friends. This can be done using various apps on your phone or by using a tablet or computer.
Try to exercise outside. It is amazing what a walk and talk together as a family can do for everyone’s mental health. If it is too tricky to get outside, maybe having a hot drink and down time together after dinner at night could be an option too.
During this time, I have been reminded constantly of 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. It can be very easy to become overwhelmed during this time, but remember that we have an Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally and wants to carry all of your stress and anxiety because He loves and cares for us.
Laura Ferguson - Academic Coordinator