The COVID-19 Pandemic has changed lives and relationships all over the globe. To help support you during this uncertain time, HRI is providing two free webinars on April 6th and April 13th. See below for more information about each session, as well as how to register.
Monday, April 6 from 12-1 pm: Parenting Young Children During the Coronavirus Pandemic: In the face of COVID-19, many parents are now homeschooling their children, while juggling other priorities, such as working remotely and balancing family priorities. Presented by former School Counselor, Camila Dos Santos, this hour-long webinar is free to all, and will provide parents of young children with strategies for healthy parenting during a pandemic. To register for this live program, click here.
Monday, April 13 from 12-1 pm:Staying Connected While Social Distancing: Social distancing guidelines is crucial to slowing the spread of the coronavirus, but it can make us feel disconnected in our relationships. Participants will learn strategies for staying connected and hear insights into how to maintain healthy relationships of all kinds while social distancing. Click here to register for this free one-hour webinar.
Please direct any questions to HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos at c_dossan@uncg.edu. We look forward to having you join us!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A RECORDING OF OUR COVID-19 WEBINARS.
Coronavirus has led to some pretty big changes in our everyday lives, and it’s normal for us to be feeling confused, overwhelmed, and uncertain. These changes may be especially confusing and difficult for kids. It’s important for us as adults to help the kids in our lives understand what is going on and to support them through the feelings they’re having related to COVID-19.
Talking to kids about the coronavirus may feel like a daunting task when we’re also experiencing uncertainty and instability; however, it’s an essential part of supporting their emotional well-being during this challenging time. Try using the following tips to help guide you through this conversation with your kids!
Provide developmentally appropriate and factual information. Withholding information about coronavirus leaves kids to their imaginations to try and understand what is going on, increasing uncertainty, fear, and stress. While kids don’t necessarily need to know all of the details, it’s important to talk to them in a developmentally appropriate way. When providing information about COVID-19, be certain to do research and get fact-based information before starting the conversation. You have the ability and responsibility to filter the information in a way that your child can understand without overwhelming them.
Start with what your kid(s) already know. A great place to start a conversation about coronavirus is by asking your kids what they already know. This gives you an idea of how your child is understanding and processing COVID-19, and it provides an opportunity to correct any misinformation.
Be open to questions. Your kids will probably have lots of questions, so it’s important to let them know that you are there to answer any questions they may have. Try your best to answer the questions clearly, honestly, and simply. And remember, it’s okay if you don’t have all of the answers. Just be honest and let your kids know that even if you don’t have the answers to all of their questions, you will be there to get through this together!
Speak in a way that is calming and reassuring. With all of the worry and panic that can stem from the uncertainty of coronavirus, it’s important to be a stable and calming presence in your child’s life. When talking to them about coronavirus, try your best to use a soft and calm tone and provide reassurance.
Give your child specific tasks that can help them feel safe and in control. Another great way to help kids feel more secure and reassured during this challenging time is by talking about what they can do to stay safe, such as washing their hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before eating, after using the bathroom, and after touching commonly used surfaces.
Give your child space to process their emotions. We’re all experiencing a lot of emotions related to the coronavirus and the many changes that come with it. Let your kids know that it is normal to have feelings of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty, and give them space to talk about these feelings.
Check out these great resources aimed at providing factual information about coronavirus to kids!
Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed., Program Coordinator of the Healthy Relationships Initiative
Social distancing has prompted us all to significantly reduce or eliminate face-to-face interactions with those outside of our homes. While it is important to continue to follow social distancing and other important guidelines associated with stopping the spread of the coronavirus, we must also be intentional and proactive about how we connect and support loved ones. In this post, we will provide tips for how to proactively support older adults during the coronavirus pandemic.
Share vetted resources that help older adults cope with negative emotions and engage in proactive healthy activities. With limited face-to-face social interactions, it is important for older adults to spend time engaging in activities that keep them balanced and emotionally and physically healthy. To ease anxiety, share articles that provide tips for coping with stress. For older adults who can no longer continue their regular physical activity, send them tips for staying active to help promote a healthy lifestyle from home. By sharing reliable resources, you can help older adults stay healthy while social distancing.
Help them avoid scams. Older adults are even more susceptible to being scammed in times of crisis. Help them avoid scams by providing factual information and keeping them up to date on different scams happening both locally and nationally. It can also be beneficial to help older adults set up online banking accounts so they can monitor their finances without having to visit the bank. When talking to older adults about scam risks, make sure you listen attentively to their concerns. It may be helpful to check out some strategies for adults to talk to their parents about scamming to avoid any negative feelings, such as shame or embarrassment.
Regularly demonstrate your love and concern. There is perhaps nothing more important than regularly demonstrating our support and concern to the people we love. While we all benefit from feeling loved and supported, older adults especially need to feel this during a time of crisis. Call, video chat, and text regularly to let them know you are thinking about them. Sending a care package with their favorite items or a handwritten letter can help brighten their day. Being consistent and intentional when showing love will help stay connected even in social distancing. Involving the rest of the family in these efforts can help everyone feel the positive effects of a strong support system, so encourage children to reach out to their older loved ones, create drawings for them, or teach them how to play an online video game.
Many older adults have been dealing with the negative effects of social isolation long before the age of social distancing and many family members have supported older loved ones in preventing loneliness before the coronavirus pandemic began. However, it is more important than ever to be intentional about reaching out and connecting with the older adults that we love. By practicing these tips regularly and intentionally, they will feel more supported during a time of extreme uncertainty.
All of us experience grief at some point or another. When many people think of mourning, they usually think of the loss of a loved one through death, whether that’s a friend, family member, or beloved pet. However, grief and mourning are not limited to the people we lose.
Right now, people across the world are experiencing grief. Students who have worked hard all year have had to leave classes and friendships behind; many adults are no longer leaving home to work, and some are unable to work at all; and many of the things we enjoy–going to the movies, taking vacations, just connecting with friends over dinner–are no longer possible. These are all things that make up pieces of our identity, and it is okay to grieve the loss of that normalcy.
What does grief look like in these situations? You may have heard of the Kuebler-Ross stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Despair, and Acceptance. All of these are common responses to loss. Right now, some people may feel angry that projects or events they worked hard to put together are no longer going to happen, or angry that places they enjoy are temporarily closing. Others may feel depressed or fearful that things will be like this forever. Still others may engage in denial or bargaining, and continue to violate social distancing policies. (While a normal reaction, these last two responses can be dangerous and put others more at risk.) Each person grieves differently, and some might experience several of these feelings at once. What is important is to recognize that these are normal, healthy responses to a very troubling time. If you or someone you know is feeling upset, that is okay. Hold space to process your grief by practicing self-care, talking on the phone with a friend, or just giving yourself permission to cry about your losses. The unique thing about the quarantine is that we are all experiencing it at once, so let’s give each other grace as we go through this grief together.
Self-care is essential during this time of social distancing and uncertainty. We encourage you to be intentional about taking care of your physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs. With the changes going on due to the Coronavirus, your self-care routine may look a little different, but it’s as important as ever! Stay tuned throughout the rest of this week for tips to help you practice self-care while social distancing!
Parenting can be difficult, especially during times of change and uncertainty. Be extra kind to yourself today and remember that there is no such thing as a perfect parent. You are doing your best.
