Mental health and children during COVID-19. This is an important topic. Parents may be asking if there’s anything they should be doing for their kids mental health during COVID-19. The answer is yes.
Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. This is going to be especially important for parents during this time. You must remain calm to help keep your children calm.
When parents and caregivers deal with COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. It’s your job to be the adult during this time. Reassure your children that you have everything under control, even if you don’t feel that way.
Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared. Make sure that you stock pile a week or so of food in case someone in your household gets sick and you can’t leave the house. There are several grocery delivery services available in most areas. Go ahead and make a list of what’s available to you. Have first aid and Tylenol/Motrin on hand.
Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some kids will tell you they’re stressed out. Others will act out. Some may internalize their fears.
Talk with your child about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer their questions and share the facts about COVID-19 in a way that they can understand. Make sure you stay on a level that they can understand and only give need to know information.
Reassure your child that they are safe and it’s okay to feel upset. Give them a safe place to express their feelings.
Limit your children’s exposure to news and social media. Let the information they’re getting come from you.
Try to keep a regular routine. Try to create a schedule that your kids can follow each day. A lot of your children left school, and a regular schedule, very abruptly.
Be a role model in how you are taking care of your physical and mental health. Take breaks throughout the day. Get enough expertise and eat healthy food. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep.
