Resources to help guide you and your child through these uncertain times
Naturally, everything may seem overwhelming right now. Dealing with online learning, news that changes every day, and possibly working from home has been a big shift in how we live our lives. Now, more than ever, it's important to have resources to turn to so we can have big discussions with our children.
Many children are currently looking for reassurance, or may have many questions that are difficult to answer. There are numerous resources available that can help you to talk to your child about Covid-19. One of the most important things that parents can do is to remain calm and offer reassurance.
To help ease stress, a good start can be prioritizing self care, whether that entails setting aside some time for yourself or practicing a favorite hobby. Try and take some time out of your day to reset and rewind, which will reduce stress and can create a more calming environment for you and your family. Many children are looking to their caretakers to know how to feel, and self-care can help you to become a model of calm that your children can emulate.
It's also important to set realistic goals for yourself and others in your household. In the face of an international emergency it's more than likely that you may not feel as productive, motivated, or energized. Don't expect yourself or others to continue to function at their usual levels. Right now is a time for understanding, and it's important to forgive yourself if you don't reach every goal.
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry has provided a list of resources to help both parents and children. There are articles on how to talk to your child about Covid-19, how to cope with stress, ideas for self-care, and more.
LDA's Healthy Child Project has mental health resources designed for helping parents and children during this uncertain time.
There is also a list of different learning activities and opportunities that have become available that can help you and your children to make the most of your time at home. Right now there are virtual museum trips, online lessons on topics like doodling, zoo and aquarium live webcams, virtual tours of national parks, and more.
Many children are suffering from stress and anxiety during this time, and we have compiled a list of calming apps for different age groups.
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame
Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame is a free app that lets your child learn calming strategies with a furry Sesame Street monster. The app provides soothing breathing strategies, encouragements, and practice with problem solving everyday problems, all in a way that is accessible and fun to younger children.
Kids Yoga Videos
Yoga can be a great way to keep kids active, positive, and calm. There are a variety of great yoga videos for kids of all ages, from Yoga for Kids that offers a full yoga class for children with longer attention spans, to Cosmic Kids Yoga, a shorter lesson that uses storytelling to get kids up and moving.
DreamyKid is a meditation app for kids. You are able to set the length of meditation time, and the meditation includes positive affirmations to inspire your child, and even guided imagination journeys. There are also specific resources for issue-based meditation, which can help with things like healthy eating or anger management.
DreamyKid is a paid app, but due to Covid-19 they have developed resources that anyone can use for free.
Relax Melodies is a free app for all ages that features calming music, sounds, and guided meditations that are designed to help with falling asleep.