by Mireille McKee
This is truly a challenging time, and we are all feeling a fair amount of anxiety. This anxiety is now compounded with feelings of isolation due to necessary closures of schools and many other activities. We are all asked to practice social distancing to limit the spread of this virus, and no doubt this is a very necessary precaution...but with young children this can be very difficult.
Despite all the uncertainty and challenges, there may be a silver lining.
Taking your time to do a puzzle together is so rewarding
Keep it simple. Talk about what it is like when they have a cold, flu or fever. Reassure them that this is very much like that and we have doctors and nurses that will help if needed.
Reassure them that they are safe, which is the most important message they can hear from us. They take their emotional cues from us, so pay attention to our anxiety levels.
Emphasize simple things families can do to stay safe. We all feel more empowered when we know what to do and can take action. Talk with your children about how handwashing and staying home can help keep us safe.
Slowing down to enjoy the simple things like decorating for St. Patrick’s Day
Many of us wonder how to talk to our children about all that is happening. Last night my husband and I watched A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and I was reminded about how Mr. Rogers talks about difficult things. He always said, “Anything that is human is mentionable, and anything mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they can become less overwhelming, less upsetting and less scary.” This is great advice for everyday situations, but is key for strange and stressful times like this. As adults, we can help our children by listening to them and sharing age appropriate facts and correcting any misinformation.
Building a neighborhood fort can be fun for you and your neighbors
We will continue to share any age appropriate information on how to talk to our children as well activities to help with having them at home. Stay tuned…and in the meantime, check out our community google doc for some fun and useful resources.