The emotional impact of the pandemic on your kids
Two months in this lockdown and we are already disturbed, stressed and anxious. The unprecedented circumstances have only made this a turmoil for all. The children are the worst hit as their physical and mental state is compromised. For physical exercise, an adult can take up aerobics and yoga, and even talk to close ones about one’s state of mind. This is completely absent in the case of a child. So, should you be worried?
What is the impact of COVID-19 on your child’s emotional health?
Children are more prone to be victims of depression, anxiety and conduct disorder during social crises. As we know, kids learn from their background setting and a distressed environment can cause severe long-term effects on them. This is a gradual process so you need to be cautious about the behaviour patterns of your child and find constructive ways to distract him/her.
Children are considered the most affected as the pandemic is changing their world. The problem is they feel detached with their version of life with friends, family, school and extracurriculars. Your role here would be to ease them out and try involving them in activities that would nurture their emotional intelligence.
One main initiative is to make them feel comfortable and secure around you, so they could express themselves better. Recognising the problem and stating it is the first step that your kid needs to learn. As Jennifer Johnston-Jones, a California-based psychologist and the author of Transformational Parenting, says, "The long-term mental health effects on children from the pandemic will vary. How we choose to parent during the pandemic will determine if our children come out of this traumatized, or able to sense that they will be OK."
How to implement constructive character-building
Before anything else, you need to talk to your children about the correct situation via a simple context and befriend them. Assure them that this phase would end soon and they could go back to their regular lives. But, rather than keeping them in a confused and frightened state, be honest and talk about the Pandemic.
Recently, a survey was conducted by UNICEF to know how the pandemic is impacting the lives of people and joining hands with a few other organisations, came up with a storybook - My Hero is You. The book, developed for children, intends to help them understand the COVID-19 crisis better and also how to protect themselves from its after-effects.
Such initiatives by World health organisations in finding solutions to maintain a mental health balance for kids reinstates the young one’s need for help to cope up with the circumstances and to overcome it.
What are the necessary steps to take to stabilize your kid’s mental health?
Here are some measures that could help you guide your kid through the unpleasant ‘trapped’ feelings of the lock-out and deal with their emotional components better. So, let’s get started.
Create a positive environment- The environment is one component that directly affects the life of a person. Even with kids, they adapt to situations easily. At present, they may be confused by the uncertainties. You need to focus on the positive aspects of the situation and remind your kids about reconciling with the current situations.
This would be a great time to train them on accepting the inevitable rough patches of life with grace. You could be the role model from whom they learn to be happy about the little things in life! Involving yourself in their activities will not only bring hope but also build relationships.
Talk to your kids everyday- Your child is confused because this phase seems unusual to them; something they never experienced or were taught about beforehand! Try to build an open and better relationship with them, now that they are always nearby. Your kid needs to be reassured about your presence and support as a friend. Communicate with them, help them to express their thoughts and feelings.
Young adults are adept in hiding feelings from their parents. So you need to make sure they are aware of your support; that you are always there to talk to. Else they will be perplexed by their feelings and indulge in something aggressive. A linear flow of emotion is normal for all age groups and is needed.
Schedule your work- It’s tough and we know you have to spend twice the amount of time obsessed over work; but schedule your work so you could make some time for the little humans at home! Engage in some family-bonding activity like playing chess or carom. A light-hearted evening conversation is also appreciated.
Remember it's not just for your kids, but you need it too. Refreshing your mind and relaxing for a period will get things back on track.
Absolute interactions- We agree that the internet is a bad hangout for kids. If you aren’t aware how slippery an arena it is, then read our blog. But nevertheless, you have to understand that kids need some time to interact with their friends. Thus, a video chat or a phone call can be the medium where you can allow your kids to catch up with their friends.
They can also register to play online games like chess over transparent platforms for healthy recreations and social interactions. All you need to do is register at secure and reliable websites like www.chesskid.com.
Maintain foundational behaviour- There is no exception to this! You must make sure that your kids follow the routine behaviours and habits that they used to maintain before the Pandemic. Going to bed and waking up on time, is a major aspect of the sleep cycle and you don’t want them to disrupt this routine. Also, their food habits and study schedules should be equally maintained. Too much leniencies and the “vacation-mood”could hamper a healthy lifestyle that could adversely affect kids in the long run.
The development of emotional competence is an undeniable requisition during this pandemic. Even with the schools shut, the overall development of a kid must not be hampered and you as a parent plays a key role in it. Their mental and emotional stability is as important as physical fitness. Mind Mentorz is an institution which works on the overall development of a kid through well-etched cognitive development programs. With recreational activities like learning chess, Rubik’s Cube or robotics, we combine fun and education to mentor the young minds.