Tips for Tough Times
- Lisa Katzen
- Mar 18, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 22, 2020
On my first day of my first job, at the age of 23, my supervisor looked at me and said, “flexibility and adaptation are the key to success both in life and this job.” These words ring true for all of us during this time of ambiguity. We’ve been challenged to create home offices and have had quick, steep learning curves to manage having children home, blurring the boundaries between work, home and school. We have all been doing our best to blend our worlds, meet our children’s needs, while managing our own anxiety and stress during times of emotional, financial and global uncertainty. As such, I thought it would be helpful to send some articles about ways to speak to your children about the coronavirus as well as provide information on navigating these changes.
As we move towards implementing social distancing, working from home and having virtual schooling, we are faced with the daunting task of creating normalcy in a time where things feel out of our control. Whatever the age of your children, creating space for healthy, honest and age appropriate dialogue with your children is critical. The experts all agree that creating structure within your families’ day is essential. These tips below can be modified to meet the needs of all age groups.
Establish a typical school wake up time. While preschoolers need consistency and routine our teens are notorious for staying up late and sleeping in. Speak to your teen about the importance of having a bedtime and setting the alarm despite not going to school each day.
Make sure your child gets dressed each day and has a dedicated workspace for school.
Infuse fresh air and movement breaks at least three times a day (keep in mind for your preschooler, this should be done even more frequently). Even a brief walk around the block can really reset our mood and energize us. If outdoor time is not possible, consider indoor movement breaks through the use of apps or different workout regimes.
Collaborating with your child about the importance of electronic free time and media breaks. It is important to model this for your children as well. Excessive media exposure leads to greater anxiety and worry. If you have younger children in your homes, make sure that you limit your discussions around world events and not expose them to the news.
Consider doing a community service projects from home. Have your children send cards or notes to a local senior center as this group may be very isolated due to their vulnerability.
For younger children, consider doing visual schedules and social stories as a way to explain changes and combat fears and worries. Older children can also benefit from writing down a daily schedule to organize their day and workload.
Finally, use this time to connect as a family. Encouraging family meals, games or family movie night where everyone is engaging in the same activity is a real treat. In this stressful time, the silver lining is truly the opportunity to connect as a family unit in ways we cannot during our regular routines.
Please enjoy the articles below. I have also included Headspace, a meditation and mindfulness app, which can be used by individuals of all ages. Pictello can be bought in the app store and used for social stories.
If you notice any changes in your child, please contact me. It is normal to experience an increase in anxiety or worry.
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