As you know, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). In response, schools are closing and community events are being canceled. Our routines are going to change for a while, and this can cause fear and anxiety in our children. Our children are looking towards us for reassurance and cues on how to react and respond during this time. Below are five strategies to help your child build resilience, and decrease their worries:
1. Stay Positive: As adults, we may be experiencing fear and anxiety also. Remember to keep calm and stay positive. If you show anxiety or fear, your child will pick up on this and also feel nervous and afraid. Allow yourself time to express your own fears and anxieties with other adults out of earshot of your children. Check-in on how your child is feeling and acknowledge and address their worries in a calm manner. Help your child think of positive things that are also happening around them.
2. Stick to the facts: It is important to have thoughtful and factual conversations with your child to distill anxiety, worry or fear. Consider your child’s age, processing, and emotions to determine how to frame these conversations to ensure your child understands. Discuss that not everything they hear or see is real. It can also be comforting to remind them that doctors around the world are looking for ways to address the coronavirus. Highlight positive news as well (that most people have mild cases and recover, especially children).
3. Consider Media Consumption: When looking online, always consider the source and fact-check to prevent fake news, and think before you share. To reduce your own anxiety, be mindful of how much media you are checking and minimize how often you are reading stories. Try to keep a healthy balance (both online and offline) in your daily routines and lifestyle. Strictly monitor what your child is viewing online. Children are curious and might search for information on their own. Since not all information is accurate and some is deliberately intended to incite fear, it is important that YOU be the source of their information, not the internet.
4. Eliminate stigma: It is important to be aware of how the coronavirus is explained to your children to avoid any person/group being blamed. You can also communicate that if someone has a fever or cough it does not mean this person has the coronavirus. We are all in this together, and need to continue to care about others in our community.
5. Boost Coping Strategies: When anyone experiences change or uncertainty this can create some level of worry or anxiety. When this occurs, it is important to use positive coping strategies to manage those emotions. As every person is different, so too are our coping strategies. Regardless, it is important to practice positive strategies to calm down or modify our thinking to improve our outlook and overall well-being. Coping strategies can include: positive self-talk, singing, dancing, reading, drawing, music, Netflix/movies, creating a gratitude list, meditation, yoga, coloring, exercise, cooking/baking, talking to a friend or family member, or doing other activities that are fun or give you joy and make you feel good. Work with your child to create a list of what they like to do when worries get overwhelming.
If you notice your child is still worried or anxious, be assured that this is a normal reaction, and continue to have calm conversations and listen to their concerns. Communicate to your child that they are strong, have adults around them who know what to do, and that together we will all get through this challenging time.