Counselors Corner: Helping Our Children Cope
Here are five tips to help your children (and you) cope.
By School Counselor Jeremy Dailey
We are all learning how to cope with the “new normal” and manage the stress that accompanies it. Added to this is the uncertainty of how long the current circumstances will last. Here are five tips to help your children (and you) cope (adopted from Common Sense Media):
- Acknowledge the loss of important milestones. Kids are missing out on many occasions they were excited about. Reassure them this will end at some point and that you’ll celebrate when it does. Ask them to write down some things that they would like to do when this occurs.
- Tell kids how you feel, and ask how they’re doing. It’s important for kids to know that everyone is experiencing emotions due to the circumstances. This help gives kids permission to identify and express their own emotions. Work to listen actively when they share in order to validate what they are feeling.
- Look for positives. Ask them to make a list of things they are grateful for during this time. They may be thankful for all the people who are fighting the coronavirus or thankful for being able to sleep in later. Research shows how optimism and positive thinking has many mental and physical benefits.
- Get outside. Spending time outdoors decreases anxiety, improves sleep, self-esteem, focus, immunity, and boosts creativity.
- Just…be. The most important thing your kids need from you right now is to be there for them. Emotional support will help them feel safe and secure.
With so much out of our control, it’s important that we focus on those things we can control. As John Wooden says, “Little things make big things happen.” Making little changes will go a long way in helping all of us persevere during these uncertain times.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
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