19 Mar Parenting through a Pandemic

Anyone feeling the stress of the Coronavirus Pandemic?  This new virus has left many of us feeling increased anxiety about what the next few weeks will entail.  Medical information is changing rapidly, and the confusion can lead to you and your children having feelings of anxiety. We docs are learning more about this virus everyday, including exactly how it spreads and who is more at risk.

Please remember the importance of remaining calm and measured. Anxiety often decreases when you understand the facts about what is happening.  Children, too, need direction and simple, honest answers to their questions. As a parent or caregiver, be sure to stay informed through reliable resources such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and your local public health agencies. I’ve come up with a few practical points to support my MomDocDiva family during these unpredictable and swiftly changing times.

Practical Pandemic Parenting tips:

How to explain what Coronavirus is to kids.  Explain that a virus is a germ that can make people sick.  Germs like to travel from person to person. When you get a cold, it is often caused by a coronavirus germ. This new germ (coronavirus, COVID-19), is different because it is more contagious than the flu, and it has made many people extremely ill. 

Say This: We can be Germbusters and help keep other people safe from the virus. That’s why we are staying home, washing our hands and cleaning our house more!  This won’t last forever, so let’s be our best to keep the world healthy and safe.

Demonstrate how to wash your hands properly.  Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Rinse with clean running water and dry with a disposable paper towel or air dryer. Hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol) is effective when soap and water are not available. 

Do This: Have fun singing Happy Birthday or the ABC’s. The time it takes to sing this is about 20 seconds and singing helps the time to pass. For older children, sing or hum their favorite theme song twice over.

Catch that Cough!  Teach your littles to cough and sneeze into their elbows. This can be a tough new habit to develop, but stay positive and practice what you preach.  Avoid touching the face as much as possible too.

Try This: Make it a game. Cheer when they catch the cough in their elbow! If any sneaky coughs escape into their hands, practice hand washing and restart the game.

Explain Social Distancing. Social Distancing is a basic but powerful public health tool to slow the spread of infections like COVID-19. Since we can not physically see the spread of this virus, the best way to decrease the spread is minimizing our number of close contacts. 

Say This: We can be heros by keeping other members of our family and the community safe. A hero is someone that does the right thing for others even when they don’t have to. We really are saving the world by keeping to ourselves for this short time.

Dealing with the uncertainty of the spread of this virus can be difficult, but here are a few ways you can be working through these confusing times with your littles:

Talk with your children about how they are feeling.  Encourage your children to ask questions and share information that is simple and understable. If they are old enough, let them direct the conversation, and affirm their feelings. 

Limit the amount of media you and your littles consume! News stories are often dramatized and are not always accurate. Talk to your children about what they are seeing on the news and discuss what might be misinformation. Be specific about screen time limits. 

Empathize and stay flexible.  With little warning, COVID-19 has turned our world upside down. Be sure not to minimize or dismiss your child’s fears or frustrations.  Life’s disruptions can be hard to cope with, but you can help your little start to understand the importance of being flexible. With schools closing abruptly, acknowledge that these changes make a big impact and be sure to involve your child in the new plans. Some children are more overwhelmed than others with changes in routine. Allow time for them to adapt to the new system.  Consider making a fun calendar together, so they can envision how things will go.

Be a good role model. Take care of your own body by eating good foods and keeping a routine.  Exercise and spend time outdoors. Do things that make you feel good and centered. Taking care of yourself is one of the most powerful ways you can parent.

Take time over the next few weeks to connect in new ways. Slow down. Play games. Read books. Cook together. FaceTime or Skype with family, and let the kids have virtual playdates too. Create some positive changes now that you will incorporate into your future everyday life. It is my sincere hope that this pandemic will revolutionize public health and direct us to prioritize our health and strengthen our communities. 

Virtual air hugs! Xoxo

Dr. Michelle