The US and the world are experiencing unparalleled health, economic, financial and emotional consequences due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. As we grapple with day to day uncertainty, parents are particularly challenged with helping their children cope effectively. In partnership with FARE (the Florida Alliance for Response to Epidemics) and the UF-VA UNESCO Bioethics Unit at the University of Florida Department of Psychiatry, we’re bringing you COVID-19 Awareness Week.
Below are several tips and behavioral strategies for parents developed by Science Cheerleader Felecia, a doctor in Clinical Psychology. Click here for the downloadable PDF.
Dr. Felecia’s 10 Tips:
1. Routine
Try to stick to a daily routine for your family. Routines provide structure to the day and help children with daily behavioral expectations.
2. Sleep
Maintain a regular sleep schedule for your children. Although children don’t have to get up to leave the house for school, keeping a consistent wake up and bedtime will help minimize the likelihood of them developing sleep issues.
3. Family Time
Maintain protected family time. With everyone doing their own thing in their rooms, it might be easy to slip into a routine of not carving out together time. Consider eating at least one meal together each day to catch up and see how everyone is coping.
4. Activity
Get moving! Try to have your family engage in some sort of physical activity each day for at least 30 minutes. Low stress ideas include stretching, yoga, jump rope or even dancing to YouTube videos.
5. Creativity
Arts and crafts help boost creativity. Consider scrap booking projects or making photo collages to display past birthday, trips, and holiday pictures. You can also find a project on SciStarter to get some at home ideas!
6. Flexibility
Stay flexible! Make sure that you leave room in your daily routine for those things that may come up unexpectedly.
7. Quiet Time
Be sure to allow yourself and family daily alone time. This will help give yourselves a chance to rejuvenate. Consider using the many available meditation and relaxation apps. (Breathe2relax, Calm, Insight Timer)
8. Connect
Be sure to encourage your children to stay connected with family and friends. Although you and your family may not be able to get together in person, consider using technology platforms like FaceTime, WhatsApp video, Line etc. to maintain family bonds and support.
9. Monitor Social Media
Be sure to oversee what your child/teen is posting and reading on social media platforms. With the recent deaths and trauma due to online bullying, it is important to make sure that your child is not being bullied or bullying others online.
10. Teach Safe Internet Habits
Make sure to warn your children about potential online dangers including entering chat rooms. Warn them about not sharing personal information with people on the internet including information that could lead a potential predator to your home, neighborhood or their school.
Additional Parenting Resources
Resilience Booster is a Parent Tip Tool developed by APA’s Children, youth, and Families Office and its Office on Socioeconomic Status.
Military OneSource provides materials and information on programs for military parents.
Phone Numbers
Toll-Free: 1-800-342-9647
En español llame al: 1-800-342-9647
TTY/TTD: Dial 711 and give the toll-free number 1-800-342-9647
Parenting2Go app helps veterans and service members reconnect with their children and provides convenient tools to strengthen parenting skills.
Copyright © 2020 Felecia D. Sheffield. PhD, HSP All Rights Reserved Worldwide in all Media.
Dr. Sheffield is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with extensive clinical, treatment and program management experience with socioeconomically and ethnically diverse adults and youth. She consults domestically and internationally and has worked with non-profits, schools, hospitals, and clinics. Dr. Sheffield has written over three dozen parenting and self-help articles for the general public. Her volunteer endeavors include being a part of Science Cheerleaders a national non-profit 501 (c)3 organization comprised of current and former NFL/NBA professional cheerleaders with STEM degrees who engage, encourage, and empower kids and young women to pursue science, technology, engineering and math careers.
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