Melissa
Peace,Love and Harmony
When you hear, read, or watch news about this outbreak, you might feel anxious and show signs of stress. These signs of stress are normal. During this outbreak, it is important to care for your own physical and mental health and reach out in kindness to those affected by the situation.
Taking Care of Children
There might be children or young people in your life who experience distress. As a trusted adult, you can help reassure and educate them about COVID-19-it can be good to talk to them now, so they can understand the illness and be reassured. If you feel your child is getting distressed during the conversation, reassure and redirect the conversation to another topic or activity. Children react differently to stress than adults do. Children may withdraw or behave in a more regressed of babyish manner, seem anxious or clingy, be preoccupied with illness in their play or drawing, have problems sleeping at night or have nightmares. Children may also get physical symptoms such as stomach aches or headaches.
Here are some tips for supporting children or young people:
1. Reassure them that they are safe.
2.Encourage them to talk about how they feel
3. Tell them that they can ask questions and answer these in plain language appropriate for their age group and ability to understand.
4. Tell them that feeling upset or afraid is normal, that it is good to talk about it and finding creative and healthy ways to express their feelings-drawing, journaling, using clay or play doe.
5. Be understanding-they may have problems sleeping, throw tantrums, or wet the bed-be patient and seek support and care for your child and yourself during this time.
6. Make efforts to create opportunities for quality time and attention with your children.
7. Remember that children look to their parents to feel safe and to know how to respond-reassure them, share how you cope and that you know that you will get through this together.
8. Try to keep normal routines-mealtime, bedtime-allow them also to get fresh air and play in a safe place.
However, if your child is escalating in their distress, seek help early.
Hope this is helpful.
Taking Care of Children
There might be children or young people in your life who experience distress. As a trusted adult, you can help reassure and educate them about COVID-19-it can be good to talk to them now, so they can understand the illness and be reassured. If you feel your child is getting distressed during the conversation, reassure and redirect the conversation to another topic or activity. Children react differently to stress than adults do. Children may withdraw or behave in a more regressed of babyish manner, seem anxious or clingy, be preoccupied with illness in their play or drawing, have problems sleeping at night or have nightmares. Children may also get physical symptoms such as stomach aches or headaches.
Here are some tips for supporting children or young people:
1. Reassure them that they are safe.
2.Encourage them to talk about how they feel
3. Tell them that they can ask questions and answer these in plain language appropriate for their age group and ability to understand.
4. Tell them that feeling upset or afraid is normal, that it is good to talk about it and finding creative and healthy ways to express their feelings-drawing, journaling, using clay or play doe.
5. Be understanding-they may have problems sleeping, throw tantrums, or wet the bed-be patient and seek support and care for your child and yourself during this time.
6. Make efforts to create opportunities for quality time and attention with your children.
7. Remember that children look to their parents to feel safe and to know how to respond-reassure them, share how you cope and that you know that you will get through this together.
8. Try to keep normal routines-mealtime, bedtime-allow them also to get fresh air and play in a safe place.
However, if your child is escalating in their distress, seek help early.
Hope this is helpful.
