YOU & the CHILDREN: WHEN YOU ARE ALL AT HOME

Strengthen self-care

During these anxiety-provoking times, it’s important to remember the tried-and-true anxiety prevention and reduction strategies. Get adequate rest & sleep; exercise regularly (with the kids!), practice mindfulness, get a dose of NATURE & use relaxation methods when feeling overwhelmed.

With youngsters:

  • Help kids understand that if you need to work too, they should respect that—their ‘job’ ‘work’ ‘role’ is to be a school student or pre-school child
  • Maintain a schedule much like their normal (school) day as much as possible. Curriculum should be available from your local district (or soon will be). Help children adjust to the new modality, get them organized for a new work mode. ROUTINE & CONSISTENCY are the keys for kids. Changes in routine are stressful for children.
  • Have ‘recess,’ lunch, rest time, nap or quiet reading time for younger kids; afternoon class
  • Help children keep contact with their friends through telephone, FaceTime, messaging; develop a virtual ‘play group’ with other shut in families; stay connected to other family & friends as well.
  • Good Nutrition: family meals
  • Regular exercise: exercise has great health benefits from mood to physical to immunity and it’s free, non-toxic and anyone can participate!  Home calisthenics (jumping jacks, touch your toes, sit ups, stretching, ‘chair dancing’ for the older adults, etc.); nature walks avoiding others
  • Take a break from media coverage of COVID-19.
  • Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak

Do fun things that mitigate stress with children.
Children sense the anxiety and stress around them

  • they need good information (obviously, in developmentally appropriate terms).
  • they need the adults around them to exhibit a calm attitude, in control of things
  • they need reassurance about safety & health issues in the context of information they can understand and digest. IF a family member is sick, be honest with children; this is a modern reality and at this acute time is actually a part of life.

It is okay to impart an appropriate level of worry & concern to children, because, of course, we’re worried if Grandma is sick! How the adult imparts the information and level of anxiety transmitted to the child is what is important. To avoid feelings of hopelessness in children, find ways for them to participate: simple chores that are actually helpful to the whole enterprise: folding laundry, keeping their own areas neat & clean, help make reminder signs for sinks that say ‘wash your hands,’ etc.

This is a great activity for adults and kids to do together: fun & informative, it is a comic for kids and can be ‘acted out:’
<https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus>

Responses from children:
Dependent on several factors

  • age of the child
  • language/comprehension abilities and developmental level of the child
  • presence, severity and type of anxiety disorder(s) or other psychiatric conditions
  • prior history of trauma or serious illness of loved ones
  • occurrence of other recent stressors or major life events (such as parental divorce, death of loved ones, major move, change of school).

Children who have other major stressors may need more attention that is specialized.
Model Calmness, Validate, Listen https://www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/communication/activelistening.html:
Best form of communication to your youngster is your own behavior

  • Take a break from media coverage of COVID-19.
  • Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak.

Relaxation exercises: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief.htm
For Nurses:
https://www.ahna.org/Home/Resources/Stress-Management
exercises on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpqHKCvC3jU