Home / Health Insurance / Articles / Parenting / Tips for Healthy Parenting During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Tips for Healthy Parenting During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Team AckoJul 4, 2024

During the global pandemic, lockdowns and social distancing measures disrupted daily life, particularly impacting children and teenagers. As a parent, it's vital to recognise the distress these restrictions can cause for young ones. Children may struggle with the inability to frequent playgrounds or spend time with friends, leading to feelings of isolation and frustration.

As parents, providing emotional support, maintaining open communication, and engaging in activities to reduce boredom can help ease their stress.

Encouraging creative outlets, facilitating virtual interactions with friends, and establishing routines can also provide stability and comfort during these uncertain times. By fostering resilience and adapting to new circumstances, parents can play a pivotal role in helping their children navigate through the challenging phases of the pandemic. Here’s an article that will help you with some tips for healthy parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Healthy

Contents

Healthy Parenting Tips:
Impact of COVID-19 on Children
- Education Disruption
- Mental Health Struggles
Steps to Keep Your Child Safe from Coronavirus
Frequently Asked Questions:

Healthy Parenting Tips:

The World Health Organization has recognized the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic and the related situations can take a toll on children. Therefore, they have come up with an advisory for parents to ensure constructive interaction with children on their website. Here’s an overview.

1) Spend Quality Individual Time:

The time of Lockdown and Social Distancing can be used by parents to spend some quality individual time with children. Just as you might be dealing with not stepping out for work, they might face challenges related to not going to school and not playing outside.

Dedicate a fixed amount of time to spend with your child. If you have more than one child then carve out that time for each child. You can include it in your daily schedule. This time can be 20 minutes as well as an hour, it’s up to you. Children might look forward to spending this daily quality time with their parents.

It is a good idea to ask your child about what they feel like doing. You can pitch in if they run out of ideas. However, if they come up with an idea and it falls within the Social Distancing framework, then you can go ahead with it.

Babies and toddlers might be oblivious to the outside situation. Irrespective, you can spend quality time with them by playing with blocks, singing nursery rhymes, and entertaining them with facial and hand gestures.

For younger children, you can help them out with some school assignments or by teaching them their favourite subjects. You can convert daily chores such as basic cooking and cleaning into a game to make them into enjoyable activities for the children. You can also read a book to your young child or have fun while sketching and drawing.

Speak to teenagers about their favourite topic such as sports, celebrities, etc. You can also exercise together at home.

2) Stay Positive:

It can get difficult to stay positive and cheerful as a parent if your child gets restless. However, shouting at them for misbehaving is not the right option and is not going to help either the parent or the child. This is where staying positive and ensuring positive reinforcement can prove helpful.

Focus on positive reinforcement while giving instructions to children. Instead of saying ‘don’t do this’, consider saying ‘please do this’.

Speak to your children in a calm tone. Shouting will lead to an increase in anger and stress, escalating the situation more and making it worse.

Be realistic with your expectations. For example, expecting your child to stay quiet for four hours is unreal. Requesting them to stay quiet for half an hour while you are completing office work on a video call seems reasonable.

Acknowledge good behaviour by praising them. This will not only be reassuring for them but also encourage them to behave well.

3) Create A Schedule:

People’s schedules have gone for a toss. With offices, schools, gyms, and other such places being shut, there is no sense of routine. As parents, creating a schedule for yourselves and your kids will be helpful.

Children are used to time-tables. They abide by that in their schools. You can create a daily time-table for your children. Remember to incorporate their ideas and their interests in the daily schedule. Be flexible with the time-table and don’t make it like a strict regimen. Make it fun.

Ensure children perform some sort of physical exercises daily. Include it in their daily schedule.

Children often look up to their parents. If you stick to your schedule and routine, chances are bright that the children will follow suit.

Gamification can help infuse some amount of fun in mundane activities like washing hands. Convert washing hands and not touching your face into a game for children.

Also, read: Coronavirus Helpline Number

4) Be Proactive:

Beyond a point, children will break the disciplinary shackles and misbehave. They will make mischief. This might anger a parent and make the entire situation a lot grim. Or else, you can detect bad behaviour early.

If you pay close attention, you can come to know that a child is about to reach the boiling point. If you can detect their restlessness at an early stage, you can distract them by involving them in a fun activity.

If you as a parent feel like shouting at your child for bad behaviour, pause for a few seconds. Slower your breathing by taking deep breaths. And then convey your message in a calm voice instead of shouting.

Explain to your child the consequence of displaying bad behaviour. Show them their options. If you have to engage them in a consequence, choose a reasonable one. For example, no TV/mobile for a few hours seems a lot doable than no TV/mobile for three days.

After the consequence is done with, present your child with an opportunity to do something good. Acknowledge their effort and praise them for their good behaviour.

Do not burden children with complex tasks. Give them simple tasks and reward them after they complete them. Gamification and positive reinforcement can come in handy to curb bad behaviour.

Also, read: Including Parents in Employer’s Insurance

5) Stay Calm:

Staying calm can be a challenge when you are bombarded with negative news regarding COVID-19 from all directions. Parents need to stay calm and take care of children without panicking.

It is crucial to stay aware but do not get burdened under all the news. Stay away from it if it gets overwhelming.

It is important to take a break and relax. You have your office work, housework, caring for children and the elders, and it is not easy. You deserve a quiet ‘me time’ during the day and make time for it so that you can stay calm.

Listen to what your kids have to share with you. Sometimes, all they need is someone who can hear their stories.

6) Inform About COVID-19:

Children are curious by nature. They might be more curious to know about what’s keeping them home and you can inform your children about COVID-19.

Be honest about the situation in your city and convey it appropriately to your children. The intention is to inform them and not scare them.

They might have already heard the news about the pandemic in some form or the other. Listen to their queries and answer them calmly. Keep your child’s age and maturity level in mind while explaining the situation.

It is alright if you are unable to answer any question. Do not share false information. Rely on the right authorities for your news. End your COVID-19 discussion session with your child on a positive note.

Also, read: Ways To Remain Healthy During Social Distancing

Impact of COVID-19 on Children

The Covid-19 pandemic has had profound effects on children, disrupting their education and worsening mental health challenges. As we continue to navigate through these unprecedented times, it is essential to prioritise the well-being of children and provide adequate support systems to address their educational and emotional needs. Collaborative efforts from governments, communities, and educational institutions are necessary to mitigate the long-term consequences of the pandemic on children's lives.

Education Disruption

The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted children's education worldwide. School closures, implemented to curb the spread of the virus, have affected millions of children across the globe. The sudden transition to remote learning posed numerous challenges, particularly for those without access to the necessary technology or stable internet connection.

This digital divide widened existing educational inequalities, with marginalised communities bearing the brunt of the disparities. Moreover, remote learning has led to concerns regarding academic engagement, social interaction, and overall learning outcomes. The closure of schools also deprived many children of vital support services, including meals, counselling, and access to special education programs, further exacerbating educational inequities.

Mental Health Struggles

Social isolation, prolonged periods of uncertainty, and fear of illness have contributed to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and stress among children. Disruption of routines, closure of schools, and limited opportunities for socialisation have further compounded these mental health challenges.

Children have also been impacted by the stress and anxiety experienced by their parents and caregivers, leading to heightened emotional distress. Additionally, the loss of loved ones due to COVID-19 has left many children struggling with grief and trauma, further exacerbating their mental health struggles.

Steps to Keep Your Child Safe from Coronavirus

Keeping your child safe from coronavirus involves a combination of preventive measures, education, and maintaining a healthy environment. Here are some steps to follow:

Education: Teach your child about the virus in an age-appropriate manner. Explain why handwashing, wearing masks, and social distancing are important.
Hand Hygiene: Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the bathroom, and after being in public places.
Hand Sanitiser: When soap and water are not available, use hand sanitiser containing at least 60% alcohol. Teach your child to cover all surfaces of their hands and rub them together until dry.
Mask Wearing: Ensure your child wears a mask properly when in public or around people who don't live in your household. Practise wearing masks at home to make it more familiar and comfortable for them.
Social Distancing: Teach your child to maintain a safe distance (at least 6 feet) from people outside their household, especially in crowded or enclosed spaces.
Avoiding Touching Face: Encourage your child to avoid touching their face, especially their eyes, nose, and mouth, as this can introduce the virus into their body.
Healthy Habits: Promote overall health by ensuring your child gets enough sleep, eats a balanced diet, and engages in regular physical activity. A strong immune system can help fight off infections.
Regular Cleaning and Disinfecting: Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home, such as doorknobs, light switches, and countertops, to reduce the risk of virus transmission.
Stay Informed: Stay updated on the latest guidelines and recommendations from reliable sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO).
Lead by Example: Be a role model for your child by following these preventive measures yourself. Children often learn best by observing the behaviour of adults around them.

By implementing these steps, you can help protect your child from contracting coronavirus and contribute to the overall effort to prevent the spread of the virus within your community.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Here’s a list of common questions surrounding parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How can I explain more about the Coronavirus pandemic to my child?

Stories are a good way of explaining things. Here’s a story shared on the World Health Organization’s website. This link will take you to the page from where you can know more about the storybook.

Can children of all ages be affected by COVID-19?

Yes, children of all ages can be affected by COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary to take all the necessary precautions.

What are the major precautions that the children can take regarding COVID-19?

Major precautions for children as well as adults include Social Distancing, washing hands regularly, avoiding touching your face, and staying hygienic.