In times of a pandemic, it is normal for children to experience their emotions differently : more stress, feeling unwell , confused, irritable. Experts point out: the mental health of children in general is particularly vulnerable in times of crisis like the one we are currently experiencing.
Children will not experience the same level of stress in this situation and will react differently. Some may: cling to their parents or guardians (much like lifelines), be consumed by anxiety , withdraw into themselves, isolate themselves, oppose , procrastinate , regress in the achievements, having nightmares becoming hypersensitive , etc.
“It’s completely normal for a child to be child’s mental health more anxious and have difficulty sleeping. It goes without saying with the situation in which we live,” says Geneviève Fecteau, executive director for the Canadian Mental Health Association of Montreal (CMHA).
What about teenagers?
They also have to deal with burdens such as adapting to new ways of learning or responding to academic demands to continue or officially complete their studies.
In the longer term, if the situation persists , the consequences on the mental health of young people will be significant . People, and especially teenagers, are in the process of building their identity , need human contact, a network of belonging to which to identify. Isolation can cause our children to develop adjustment and behavioral problems that will be irreversible.
What to do to create positive in all this?
Just a little reminder. Pay attention to your own anxiety because children are sensitive to your own energy. Breathe before talking to them. Share your tips for staying calm and positive, as this is key to maintaining good mental health.
Children learn and are inspired by the adults around them, hence the importance for you, parent, teacher, professional, to set an example.
Here are 11 TIPS to take care of our children’s mental health! (To do every day!!!)
- Promote active: listening and an understanding attitude towards them with a hand on the shoulder, a comforting smile, a softly whispered word of love.11-tips-for-taking-care-of-the-mental-health-of-the-child-4
- Organize a moment of listening and reception : in the routine by inviting your child to talk about what he has experienced during his day. Often children will say “good” because they want so much to be loved by their parents and not disappoint them. So, you have to go a little further in the conversation and ask more specific questions : “Did things go well today? Being distanced from others? With the masks? On the bus? Did you get rejected?”
- Offer him an intermediary. If your child has difficulty opening up and talking, invite him to draw or play blocks or a puzzle while you ask him the questions. It will allow him to reconnect with his interior more easily, instead of answering what mom or dad hopes to hear. He may feel more free to respond and have access to his emotional state.
- Listen without intervening. Often, as parents, we tend to come up with a solution right away, while our child just wants to be fully listened to. Very often, it is us as adults who are in lgbtqtherapydenver.co, and we seek at all costs to solve it. Listen to your child without intervening by feeling what he is going through. This listening can be the solution in itself.
- Normalize emotions : by explaining that it’s okay to feel that way and talking about what you’re going through and how you’re dealing with your well-being (to some degree).
- Help her find positive ways to express: upsetting feelings, such as anger, fear, and sadness . Ask him to symbolize what he feels with an image , an object. Ask him: if this object could talk what would it say?
- Talk openly: give them clear, age-appropriate information on how to reduce the risk of infection and stay safe.
- Maintain regular routines and schedules: create new ones that include learning, play , exercise, relaxation, and special contact time with mom and dad; it’s so important to nurture homeland security.
- Speak your truth. Determine a time (the evening meal lends itself well) where each person in the family shares their truth about what they feel and how they feel without the others intervening. We go around the table to become aware of the pulse of our family unit, and find out who needs more support and comfort.