Children also need factual, age-appropriate information about what is happening and how we are working to slow the spread of COVID-19. Teaching children positive preventative measures (hand washing and adhering to the shelter-in-place order), talking with them about their
Connected Hearts How to Help Kids Cope During COVID-19 By Deb Kubin, UUSD Superintendent
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would never have thought that I would be writing about a pandemic, yet here we are. We are in unprecedented times. We have so many things to think about and deal with that it can be overwhelming. We’re in uncharted waters, and I want everyone to know my positive thoughts and heart go out to our students, families, staff, and community. One of our highest priorities is to make sure kids feel safe and cared for. In light of our current situation, physical safety has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds. The longer we shelter-in-place and children and parents attend to remote learning, the more attention we have to give to the emotional safety of our students. When we are physically attending school, our district has protocols and procedures in place to meet our students’ social-emotional needs. With students sheltered-in-place at home, we are in a new arena in 10 MendoLakeFamilyLife
terms of continuing to meet our students’ needs. We are offering support through remote counseling (more on that later). And in addition to that support, there are things we as parents and guardians can do at home. You can reassure your children that, along with local health and school officials, you are working hard to keep them safe and healthy. Let them know that the children in our community are our greatest treasure and that we will do everything we can to keep them safe.
The children in our community are our greatest treasure fears, and giving them some sense of control over their reality can help reduce anxiety. A balance between providing accurate information, while at the same time not causing undue stress, is critical to the emotional health of our children. It’s challenging to decide what to talk to your kids about and when. I struggle with it every day only to quickly find out they know as much or more than I do because of their voracious digital appetites. Here are just a few things to consider when talking with your children about COVID-19: • It is essential to stay calm, listen, and offer reassurance. • Children will react to and follow your verbal and nonverbal reactions. What you say and do about COVID-19, current prevention efforts, and related events can either increase or decrease your children’s anxiety. • Children may need extra attention from you and may want to talk about their concerns, fears, and questions. They must know they have someone who will listen to them and make time for them.
May 2020 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
