BE A ROLE MODEL
Children feel our energy about topics so parents, how is your energy? If you are anxious, they will pick up on your anxious energy. If you are calm, they will take on that calm energy.
Model healthy lifestyle choices for coping with stress such as eating healthy, getting in daily physical activity, getting plenty of sleep, and talking about how they are feeling.
LISTEN AND OFFER REASSURANCE
Ask your child how they are feeling about going back to school. Do more listening than talking. If you don’t know the answer to a concern, tell them that but also let them know you are going to find the answer and then contact the school, the health dept., a mental health provider depending on the concern.
Answer according to their age:
- Lower elementary age kids –keep it simple “we wash our hands to keep germs away.”
- Upper elementary and early middle school: separate fact from rumors the best you can. Discuss efforts on national, state, and local level to prevent germs from spreading
- Upper middle and high school students: look up resources online for up to date facts; engage in decision making for family plans and ways to deal with COVID-19.
ASK YOUR SCHOOLS BEFOREHAND AND EDUCATE
- Find out what precautions your school is taking for COVID-19 and review those with your child.
- Review hygiene precautions such as proper hand washing. The Portage County Health District has good advice on their website for this.
- Explain what “social distancing” means. A more appropriate phrase is “physical distancing” meaning that while we need to have physical space between us as a health precaution, we want to be socially/emotionally connected to people.
- Explore ways to stay emotionally connected to people through talking, positive social media, writing notes, or drawing pictures for others.
- Once they return to school, check out their stress level.
- Turn off the TV and social media if it is heightening anxiety.
- Identify who at school they can talk to if they are stressed out. Ask to talk to the school counselor. Is there a mental health provider in the school they can talk to?
- Offer encouragement, praise, and lots of love.
Children’s Advantage school-based staff will continue to consult in schools, community organizations, and designated preschool/childcare facilities to provide prevention and early identification of youth experiencing potential mental health issues if the school allows. Reach out to your school counselors to learn more about their mental health providers.
We meet families where they are. Whether you are comfortable with a phone call, telehealth, in-person services, or home visits, parents can find community support while navigating this new normal.
