COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Should you be wearing a face mask? Here's how they can make a difference in fighting coronavirus: people who catch covid-19 don't feel symptoms for 5 - 6 days on average, and even up to 14 days, but are contagious before that. Based on what we know right now, about 25% of people who catch it never show symptoms at all but are also contagious.
Keep talking. Tell kids that you will continue to keep them updated as you learn more. “Let them know that the lines of communication are going to be open,” says Dr. Domingues. “You can say, ‘Even though we don’t have the answers to everything right now, know that once we know more, mom or dad will let you know, too.’”
LINKS TO PARENT RESOURCES
"Since research shows that those with a positive outlook can manage stress better and actually live longer, this is a time to help foster resilience in children." (Dr. Capanna-Hodge, Ed.D., a psychologist and pediatric mental health specialist)
Handling Your Kid’s Disappointment When Everything Is Canceled
By Erinne Magee
March 18, 2020
The New York Times
"Disappointment can be linked to a feeling of loss of control in children,’ said Roseann Capanna-Hodge, Ed.D., a psychologist and pediatric mental health specialist psychologist in Connecticut. ‘When you have to talk about canceled events that kids were looking forward to, think about it as a learning opportunity to manage disappointment,’ Dr. Capanna-Hodge said. ‘We often are so worried that our kids will get upset when we should be thinking; What can my child learn here? Can they learn about managing stress and feeling upset?’”
"It helps just to be a listening ear so your child can freely vent her frustration. Of course, as parents, there is an urge to swoop in and wipe out disappointment.’ ‘But, Dr. Cicero said, parents can actually get in the way of a child’s development when they do this. ‘Plus, there’s something so therapeutic about a person willing to hear you out and just be with you,’ she added."
For 7 to 10-Year-Olds: Some children may feel sad, mad, or afraid that the event will happen again. Correct misinformation the child may get from others.
Preteens and teenagers: May respond to trauma by acting out. This could include reckless driving, and alcohol or drug use. Others may become afraid to leave the home. They may cut back on how much time they spend with their friends. They can feel overwhelmed by their intense emotions and feel unable to talk about them. Their emotions may lead to increased arguing and even fighting with siblings, parents/caregivers or other adults.
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Children may respond to stress in different ways such as being more clingy, anxious, withdrawing, angry or agitated, bedwetting etc. Respond to your child’s reactions in a supportive way, listen to their concerns and give them extra love and attention
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Creating a secure home environment is important so that you and your children can deal with stress and uncertainty in a healthy way. Drawing from developmental psychology, here’s what parents can do: - be predictable and consistent - be responsive - be nurturing and affectionate - model calm reassurance and thoughtful problem solving
During this unusual time, both children and parents have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Promote flexibility by:
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Praising kids when they are adaptable.
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Adjusting your expectations for what you can accomplish in a workday.
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Using kids’ screen time for meetings and factoring in time for hands-on parenting.
It can be scary to hear about a disease outbreak, but learning the facts can help ease your mind. A new coronavirus—a type of virus named for its crown-like shape—emerged in Wuhan, China in 2019, and then spread to people around the world. While the most severe cases often dominate the headlines, they’re not the whole story. Most coronavirus cases have been mild, and healthy bodies can fight off the infection on their own. Find out more about how viruses work, and the best ways to prevent them from infecting more people. Viruses can’t spread without our help, so click play to learn how not to help them!
Supporting and reassuring children around the world
Dear families and educator all over the world,
I have created this short book to support and reassure our children, age of 7 and under, regarding the COVID-19. This book is an invitation for families to discuss the full range of emotions arising from the current situation. It is important to point out that this resource does not seek to be a source of scientific information, but rather a tool based on fantasy. My recommendation is to print this material so children can draw on it. Remember that emotions are processed through repetitive play and stories read multiple times. Share COVIBOOK and help ease kiddo's anxiety all over the world.
With love, Manuela Molina - the author
