Most children will likely have now heard about the Coronavirus outbreak and noticed the changes going on around them, and some of the changes can be scary for children.
For Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May), Medical Travel Market collaborated with Dr Lucy Viney from The Fitzrovia Psychology Clinic in London to give advice on how to support children during the current COVID-19 pandemic:
Do not be afraid to discuss the coronavirus with your child
Your goal is to help your child feel informed and get fact-based information that is likely to be more reassuring than whatever they’re hearing from their friends or on the news
Allow your child space to share their worries and fears
For example, you could say: “I understand that all these changes are making you feel worried. It’s OK to feel worried when everything seems different. I’m so pleased you have let me know how you’re feeling”
Identify non-verbal opportunities for emotional expression
For example, it can be helpful to draw pictures of things that your child has noticed each day or to ask them to choose some music to listen to together that reflects how they are feeling
Focus on what you’re doing to stay safe and healthy, such as hand-washing
This is empowering for children because it gives them tools and knowledge to help keep themselves and others safe, and something that they can focus on
Establish a daily routine
It can be helpful to integrate activities that you used to do before the coronavirus outbreak, such as eating together, watching a TV show or going to for an evening walk.
Find regular opportunities for meaningful conversations
If possible, try to find an opportunity each day to spend between 5-60 minutes of ‘special time’ with each of your children. The basic premises of ‘special time’ are that you specify the length of time (which is determined by however much you can manage that day) and the location, and your child chooses the activity. This ‘special time’ should be free from any external distractions, such as phone calls.
Look after your mental wellbeing too
Practice self-care and invest in your own wellbeing. It’s important to remember that you can only do what you can manage at this time and that every day doesn’t have to be ‘perfect’.
For more information, visit: https://medicaltravelmarket.com/news/looking-after-childrens-psychological-health-and-wellbeing
