How to help your children while sheltering-in-place

What tips do you have for parents to help manage their children's stress in light of the coronavirus? 

Signs of stress in children and teens include psychosomatic complaints (headaches, stomachaches, muscle aches), sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep), nightmares or night terrors, irritability, regressed behavior (including bedwetting), acting out (teens), anger (teens), avoiding schoolwork, excessive worry or sadness, aggressive behavior, use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs (teens), and changes in eating habits.  Reaching out to your pediatrician or to a mental health therapist is important if your child is experiencing intense symptoms related to stress.

Parents can support their children by managing their own anxiety, making time to laugh and play, making routines for family exercise, and trying to keep things upbeat. The good news is that the things kids need are the same things that adults need. If we can shift from feeling like we need to manage our children to learning to co-exist alongside our children, we will have a higher chance of caring for both our own needs and the needs of our children. This goes against a current parenting trend known as “helicopter parenting.” Of course, this is more challenging with younger children and in families where there is not another adult to help. This is not business as usual.  Check your expectations to see if they are realistic and connect with other parents who empathize with the current situation.

 For parents with children who have behavioral health needs, G.E.A.R. Parent Network is a great resource.  Through parent-to-parent sharing of experiences and knowledge, G.E.A.R. Parent Network empowers parents of children with behavioral health needs to build on their family’s strengths and to advocate for their family’s needs.  G.E.A.R. can be reached by phone at 1-800-264-9224