Parenting in the time of Covid-19

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Published: Thu 2 Apr 2020, 6:20 PM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2020, 8:28 PM

Countries crippled by the Covid-19 outbreak are fighting to contain the deadly contagion which has already infected more than half a million. As several countries go into lockdown, nearly a third of the world's population are living under coronavirus-related restrictions.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) have suggested some tips for families confined to their homes, covering everything from creating a new routine to managing stress and talking about the Covid-19 as reported on weforum.org.
1. Family time, quality time
Set aside some time to spend with each of your children and ask them what they would like to do. You can suggest they read a book, look at pictures, dance, do a chore together, play games or help them study.
Gladys Dias, mother of two (10th grade and University), told City Times that she assigns daily household chores to her sons and ensures that they help her out in the kitchen too. "I have always made sure that my children learn to be self-sufficient, and this lockdown is the perfect period to hone their skills. I spend time listening to what they have to say, and this has brought down the stress levels resulting in the overall well being of the family," she says.
2. Spread positivity
Whilst being indoors all the time, it is very important to use positive language and praise your child or teenager for something they have done well. They may not show it, but you'll see them doing that good thing again. It will also reassure them that you notice and care.
The WHO also advises to keep your expectations real. "It is very hard for a child to keep quiet inside for a whole day...But maybe they can keep quiet for 15 minutes while you are on a call," WHO said.
Help your teenage children communicate with their friends through social media and other safe distancing ways.
A working mother and a teacher at a Dubai school, adds that a positive outlook can keep children pleasant. She says, "Keeping the children productively engaged while working from home is challenging, yet rewarding. While I take online classes for my students, my 3-year-old daughter is kept engaged in drawing, colouring and building blocks. She is happy to have me around and fondly calls the online sessions 'Pretend School'. I encourage my 13-year old son to take up exercises every day after his online classes. He is also fond of cooking and tries a hand at preparing dishes."
3. Plan a routine
Chalk out a daily routine and include in it time for structured activities, as well as free time to help children feel more secure. You can involve them in planning the day, like making a school timetable.
Most importantly, include daily exercise in the plan as this helps lower everyone's stress levels and help dispense some of that pent-up energy. Father of one, Heman Prabhulal Gusani, owner of Gusani General Trading L.L.C., explains that it is important to make sure that no kind of monotony sets in when children are within the four walls of their house. "Even if my son is engrossed in a video game, I try to keep him physically active, and make space for quality family time as well as include fun conversations for him to participate in."
4. Manage acting out
With children not being able to play outside, it is likely they might throw a tantrum more than often. The WHO recommends three steps for dealing with bad behaviour. First, if you can catch it early, redirect or distract by suggesting an alternative activity. Next, take a 10-second pause before you respond, breathe in and out slowly five times, and then respond in a calmer way.
The last step is to instill a sense of consequences (or cause and effect). Give your child a choice to follow your instruction before telling him about the consequences. Once the consequence is over, give your child a chance to do something good, and praise them for it. Shiny Oommen, an entrepreneur and a mother of two, says that she has learnt creative parenting techniques to ensure her children have a comfortable space. "This lockdown situation is no more a 'shut down at home' phase, rather it has become 'a revamping phase ' towards a better, creative and a deeper family bonding. I engage them with various art and craft activities, listen to their creative stories, ask them to search for new words, write down their experience of being at home. In short, this lockdown has made me realise that, as a parent, it is necessary to build a confident future generation rather than pulling them down with fear and anxiety," she said. She has created a YouTube video Shiny's Mantra Corner to encourage parents to be bold for their children in these times.
5. Manage stress
Manage stress by taking time for yourself even if it's just a five-minute break to enjoy a cup of tea, meditate or exercise. "Be open and listen to your children. Your children will look to you for support and reassurance. Accept how they feel and give them comfort," the WHO says.
Arown Reji, a Grade-12 student at the Sharjah Indian School, Juwaiza, keeps himself busy by perfecting his musical talent, and thus is able to use it as astress buster.
"I use my time to discover new genres of music, and I also watch movies or series, which additionally helps me improve my language and communication skills", he told City Times, also adding that, "I believe a disciplined quarantine would help us develop new skills."
6. Talk openly about the virus
Children may be feeling anxious about the coronavirus pandemic. Have a transparent approach and talk to your children openly about what's going on, admitting when you don't have all the answers.
Jyoti Bhatia, a mother of two, says that her sons often seek solace in keeping to themselves, yet, she ensures that they are part of the larger concerns keeping everyone at bay today. "Even though they're busy with online classes and assignments, we have mandated family time to discuss the epidemic and the latest developments. This way, they do not feel the need to give in to fear."
As parents, this could well be the perfect transformative period to bond with and better cater to the needs of your children. Happy Parenting!
With inputs from CT contributor, Mahima Ann Ninan
 

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