Are you still stuck in quarantine? Most people are confined to their homes, so it’s not surprising for kids to experience the same frustrations as adults. Sooner or later, their usual activities may no longer hold their attention, thus affecting their mental health. Before that moment comes, here are six ways to get them through these challenging times.
1. Start a Conversation
Children cannot freely express their emotions. As a parent, you must teach your children that talking will help them feel better. Allot some time for thoughtful conversations with your children and let them bring up topics that they are interested in. Another way to help your children get in touch with their emotions is to read them a book and let them identify the characters’ emotions. And when they share stories, ask them open-ended questions so that they can get deeper into the conversation.
You can also engage children in meaningful conversation through games and other fun activities. The next time you watch a movie with your children, ask them about their opinions and show genuine interest. This way, you can help them develop assertiveness.
2. Have Some Fun Time
Do you always give off a serious vibe at home? Perhaps it’s time to stir up some fun! Remember, distraction is the best technique to get through difficult times, so keep your kids occupied by doing something fresh and enjoyable with them every once in a while. You can surprise them with their favorite meals, play their favorite games with them, and do anything else that can help them relax and unwind.
3. Encourage Movement and Meditation
The pandemic is becoming a time to slack off the whole day, and meditation or any form of exercise is highly beneficial not only for your physical health but also for your mental stability. So teach your children the value of movement and meditation in their overall health. Take a walk in your backyard or work out with them. You can also stimulate their minds by performing meditation exercises.
4. Establish Autonomy
The quarantine is the best time to connect with your kids. As a parent, how can you establish that connection? One way to strengthen your relationship with your children is by letting them speak for themselves. Even with their young minds, children can make their own decisions. Give your child a sense of control in simple ways, such as letting them order what they want to eat or letting them decide which games to purchase.
5. Personal Space and Self-care
Nothing is more beneficial to the mind than self-care. It is important for people to clear their minds and maintain their mental wellness. There are numerous ways for your children to exercise self-care, and they can practice some of them with you. As a result, you can look after your children’s mental health while spending time with them.
6. Teach Them Responsibility
Even if your children are doing remote learning, you must still give them a sense of responsibility. Let them know the basics of their chores by teaching them how each task works. Later on, you can use some positive reinforcement and reward them for every activity that they accomplish. Furthermore, you can instill financial discipline in your children by introducing them to educational applications for money management and digital platforms to pay bills or send money online. With these tools, they can increase their financial literacy and keep up with digital transformation.
Supporting Your Kids through Quarantine
Giving your children a schedule to follow can help them get through the quarantine. With this schedule, they can keep track of their daily tasks and stay calm as days pass by. When there is a disruption in their routines, they may lose their sense of control, thus leading to anxiety, sadness, and other mental issues.
So it is essential to be aware of how your children are coping and assist them in developing a new method. You should tell them what is going on and why it is necessary to change their daily routines.
Wrapping Things Up
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought dramatic changes to the way that we balance our day-to-day activities and our parenting strategies. The transition has had an emotional toll on all of us, especially on children and teenagers. On top of that, social deprivation can put your children at risk of developing mental health issues, so it is up to you to provide enough support while they are under quarantine. Continue to check in with your children and help them cope with change.
