Helping Your Child Adapt In This New Normal

The ‘new normal’ and its impact on the kids’ mindset are essential to consider. While working through it as caregivers, the children have to engage in routine-forming activities to maintain their well-being. The adults need to take care of themselves before taking care of the children.

As proven scientifically, it has profoundly impacted their minds, as their fear and struggles with uncertainty were no less than a psychological battle. Apart from being distanced socially, the brunt of their elders’ anxiety fell on the young ones. It is essential to keep in mind that parents might not be verbal about their stress, body language, and subconscious; stress-induced behaviors can pressure the child’s day-to-day lives.

The parent-child dynamics

As the caregiver and the primary source of contact for a child, the parents play a crucial role in helping them work through this situation. Parents can start by breaking down social distancing and lockdown concepts. To understand their state of mind, they can put up open-ended questions to help their child regulate their emotions.  Some questions that Guardians can ask:

1. Is there anything that is making you are anxious or worried?
2. What questions do you have about COVID-19?
3. What have your friends been saying about it?
4. How is all this making you feel?

Working parents and time management

Managing the workload and being present always might be a challenge for the parents. This pandemic can be an opportunity to re-evaluate the parent and child dynamic.

Quality over quantity of time

It is essential to spend quality time with the children, which gives both the child and the parent an understanding relationship. It is necessary to understand that a healthy dialogue, no matter how short, can help the child form a healthy view on life in terms of work-life balance. Uninterrupted time with the kids can help them feel loved and appreciated. An easy way to do so is to develop a hobby or revisit old hobbies. Electronic gadgets have already replaced many things in our lives, so it is crucial to help the children and the parents release trapped energies and spread happiness by taking up hobbies and spending time together.

Develop a routine

Give a foundation to the children, improve yourself, and set an example as the children observe and imbibe qualities. – establishing a stable routine at home can be the first step towards helping kids adjust to the ever-changing world.

Creating relatability is essential; mistakes and learning from them; don’t make a false impression of perfection. This time also calls for indulging in self-care, and parents can do it effectively by showing the kids that taking breaks and loving yourself is a part of life and not a waste of time.

Be a role model

While it is possible to maintain a healthy physical image for the child’s sake, subconscious movements and navigating through work stress can quickly impact the child’s view on the entire situation. By being aware of the type of information shared, the parents can give their children and themselves to navigate false information and panic.  

Instead of manipulating the situation, parents can take the lead and provide age-appropriate answers to their kids. Creating a dialogue about changes and the virus itself can alleviate many stress and anxiety of the “unknown.”

Find your child’s learning style. Please don’t force them to do something that they don’t like; instead, help them understand their purpose. For example, a simple activity can allow them to turn homework into something that will form rational ties between a job and its meaning.

References

Kids Sports Summit | Panel Discussion | How to engage a child in the new normal | Go Alpha (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbeBaemu480)

Talking to children about the new normal (https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/schools/talking-to-children-about-the-new-normal-

164863 )

Talking to children about our “new normal” during the COVID-19 pandemic (https://www.wakehealth.edu/Stories/Podcasts/BestHealth-Podcasts/Talking-to-children-about-our-new-normal-during-COVID19)

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