Parenting during COVID-19

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Sanjukta Khaund, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

COVID-19 has been difficult on all of us.

As children, the concept may be even more difficult to grasp.

The sudden change from going to school to studying from home or not at all, from going outside to play or arranging play-dates to sitting at home without any interaction with the outside world is a challenging time for every child.

What’s important to remember is that as a parent you play the most significant role in your child’s life even now, or perhaps now more than ever.

Here are a few tips to help you navigate your parenting journey in this current scenario:

o Calm yourself – The most helpful thing you can do for your child is remain calm and orderly yourself. Children imitate and catch on to the energy of those around them, especially their parents’. If you don’t want your child spiraling out of control, it is necessary for you to ensure you’re keeping your anxiety under control first.

o Be present – Your child needs you more than ever, now to help understand & make sense of this situation. Be there. Listen to your child – both the spoken & the unspoken. Spend quality time together – you could watch a movie, bake, do chores, play games, listen to music, dance, paint,—— the list is endless. You should allow your child to choose how to spend your time together.

o Provide structure – With all the sudden changes your child is witnessing around them, it is of utmost importance that you provide structure to their lives by maintaining a routine. This can include your child waking up and going to bed at the same time as before, as well as designated study-time and play-time as was the norm before the lockdown.

o Enable virtual playdates – To keep your child sociable, ensure your child is able to talk to or see their friends or cousins via video-calls where they can even attend play-dates that have been arranged for them. If your child is older, then just ensure they’re keeping in contact with their friends and perhaps their teachers from school to ensure some normalcy.

Take care of yourself and your child and implement these simple, practical steps to ensure your child is able to thrive during the COVID-19 lockdown.