Coronavirus: How to keep kids emotionally healthy
Ecuador has declared a state of emergency and suspended all classes, from daycare to university, as a measure of preventing the spread of Coronavirus. They currently have 17 confirmed cases.
As our staff is putting together resources to help our kids and their families cope in emotionally healthy ways, I thought I’d share some of the English resources for our friends in the US.
Here is a fabulous book for younger kids to easily explain what the virus is, how to prevent it and some tools for dealing with the emotion of it all. Download from MindHeart.co
Another tool, for older kids, is a comic book version of what it is and how to handle everything happening. Download from NPR
The key tips most experts recommend include:
- Stay calm yourself
- Talk honestly and openly about the facts
- Give them time to express their emotions
- Validate their feelings and concerns
- Limit media coverage
- Continue your normal routines as much as possible
- Listen and be available as concerns arise
In the case of quarantine:
- Maintain structure and regular routines as possible
- Keep normal mealtimes
- Exercise together
- Play games
- Encourage activities other than simply relying on screen time
- Maintain a normal sleep schedule
- Help kids stay in contact with friends and family
Here are a few links with tips for helping kids cope with the anxiety and uncertainty:
- 7 Ways to Support Kids and Teens Through the Coronavirus Pandemic
- How to Talk to Kids and Teens About the Coronavirus (Psychology Today)
- How to Talk to Your Anxious Child or Teen About Coronavirus
- The Best Indoor Games for Quarantined Kids and Families
Remember the importance of prayer and relying on God for peace. As Billy Graham stated, “We are to pray in times of adversity, lest we become faithless and unbelieving. We are to pray in times of prosperity, lest we become boastful and proud. We are to pray in times of danger, lest we become fearful and doubting. We are to pray in times of security, lest we become self-sufficient.”