How to Help Your Child Cope with Quarantine
For both children and adults alike, since the pandemic began, the world that we once knew has ceased to exist.
In children’s minds, they can no longer go out to their favorite restaurants or places in the malls, see their friends, play outdoors, go to school, or visit their extended family. And unlike adults who are more capable of processing their thoughts and emotions, children struggle with being able to process, let alone articulate what’s in their minds and hearts.
This kind of stress, which is unprecedented in their young lives, can be made evident in different ways, including their skin; flare-ups and irritation are some of those stress-induced symptoms on the skin. So when it comes to helping them cope with quarantine, we have to be more intentional about trying to see things the way they do, and be there for them through their own struggles.
Children Should Be Allowed to Talk About Their Feelings
Things that may not be valid concerns for adults may feel like the end of the world for children, and we have to let them express what they feel. Sometimes, they may not even know how to give a name to what they feel, and that’s okay. As long as they know you’re there for them and that you can help them deal with what’s going in and around them, they’ll feel safe.
Establish a Routine
Children thrive on routine and repetition, more so than adults. This helps them feel a sense of purpose and control, knowing what to expect out of their day. So help them establish a new kind of routine that involves their sleeping and waking schedule, times for meals, time for home or online school, naptime (if needed), playtime and breaks, and time with you.
Change the Language, Set the Tone
Children pick up on their authority figures’ feelings quite quickly. So it’s important to set a positive tone at home and help them reframe the situation. Instead of allowing them to think that they’re trapped at home, help them realize that by staying home, they are keeping safe and making others safe; instead of not being able to go to school, you get to spend the whole day together with them every day instead of just weekends.
Keep Them Connected
Just because they’re at home, it doesn’t mean that they can’t do some of the fun things that they used to do. Schedule regular video calls with extended family or their friends. Sign them up for online music, dance, art, or sports classes.
Surprise Them
Make the most of your time together at home and add excitement to your week! Plan an indoor “camping trip”, pizza night, a sleepover in their room, a movie marathon evening when they can stay up later than usual. Give them something to look forward to, and make each week more fun than the last.
Stress and anxiety can affect a child in many ways, not just mentally but physically. And this can manifest on their skin, especially a child with eczema. So it’s absolutely necessary to ensure their physical, mental, and emotional well-being — not just throughout this pandemic, but even beyond.
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