As a parent, what is my role, and what can I do to best support my child’s education?

Page 6: How Can I Support My Child Socially and Emotionally?

You’re probably sick of hearing the term “the new normal.” It’s no longer new, and it’s certainly not normal.  It can be confusing, tiring, and stressful. You might be juggling being a parent, supporting your child’s learning, and working from home. At the same time, you might be worried about the loss of a job, your finances, or the health of your loved ones.

You’ve been coping with this for months. At a time when you most need the social support of extended family and friends, you have to keep a safe physical distance. Plus, the ever-changing news about the pandemic can add to our anxiety and worry.

We also need to remember that our children’s lives have changed as well. They were used to a structured school day that included lessons, exercise, fun activities, and time with friends. Then everything changed and their days became much less structured. Maybe they’ve had little or no time with friends. Now they’re heading back to school after a summer that felt nothing like a vacation. And they’re starting a new grade, maybe feeling like they didn’t finish the old one. 

However, there is good news! There are things you can do to help your child (and yourself) during this time. Let’s take a quick look at each of them.

• Reduce your child’s stress
• Help your child stay connected to friends and family
• Encourage your child to be active and have fun

For more information on each of these, keep reading.

Reduce Your Child’s Stress

This is a stressful time for many children. They are adjusting to a new schedule, trying to learn new things, and might not have seen extended family and friends for months. Also, they may be worried that they will catch COVID-19, or expose a family member to the virus. Kids don’t show stress the same way as adults.

So how can you tell that your child is stressed? Clues include changes, such as:

• Being irritable or clingy
• Falling back into old behaviors (sucking thumb, bedwetting)
• New eating or sleeping habits
• Arguing or fighting more with parents and siblings
• Not being able to concentrate on school work

All children are different, and the way they react to stress is different. How they react might depend on things like their age or personality. For some children with disabilities, the changes in routine can create stress. Keep these things in mind as you help your child through this, and make sure you address his or her individual needs. 

Below are some common concerns that children might have. Click on each for tips on how to address them.

Help Your Child Stay Connected to Friends and Family

Although we are all encouraged to avoid contact with others, children still need some way to connect with friends and family. Why is this important? Children who stay socially connected are happier and have more fun. They are also less lonely, worried, and depressed.

This connection can start with you. By taking just 5 to 20 minutes out of each day to give your child your undivided attention, he will feel important, loved, and secure. Your child can also connect with family and friends by:

• Texting
• Phoning
• Video chats
• Writing letters

If your child is feeling lonely or missing friends and family, here are a few things you can do.

Spend a few minutes of quality-time with your child. This can be anything that works for you and your child, such as chatting during breakfast, checking in between phone calls, or catching up at the end of the day. The important thing is to show them that you care, so be available and listen.

Allow your child to connect with family and friends. If you have a young child, you may need to supervise calls and video chats. For older children, you may need to establish some rules, set times, and time limits for chatting so that they can complete school work. Read Social Interaction While Social Distancing for ideas about ways to connect with others.

Encourage your child to help others. Depending on the age of your child, this could be as simple as writing a thank-you note to a healthcare worker or calling an older relative who is living alone. It could also include sewing masks for healthcare workers or pulling weeds for an elderly neighbor.

Encourage Your Child To Be Active and Have Fun

Not all activities have to be educational or meaningful. Some activities can just be silly or fun. Staying active and taking time to have fun can help reduce stress. When your child is less stressed, she will be calmer, get better sleep, and feel better overall.

Schedule time for physical activity. Even though he may spend part of the day working on school assignments or chores, your child should be physically active. Being physically active is a great way for your child to reduce stress and to stay healthy. For some, this might include taking a walk or riding a bike. For others, it might include indoor activities like dancing, working out to a video, or doing yoga.

Just 30–60 minutes of exercise a day can help your child stay healthy. That may seem like a lot, but it doesn’t have to be all at one time. Think about breaking it into chunks throughout the day, maybe 10–15 minutes at a time. For an example of how to add physical activity into your child’s schedule, see Page 2.

Plan time for fun. Your child also needs time to have fun and let off steam. For some kids, this could be physical activity. For others, it might mean playing video games, reading a book, or watching a favorite TV show. Be careful, though: Although activities like watching TV, playing games on a device, or chatting with friends or even reading or playing a board game can provide a nice break, too much inactivity can lead to weight gain and poor health.

Get outside. Fresh air and sunshine can make a stressful day much better. We realize it’s not always possible, but children should get outside when they can. If they do, make sure they follow all current health and safety guidelines.