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LIFESTYLE

our children from, but the truth does not • Get back to some routines. As soon as for screens is in relationships with true
need to include every gory detail. How much possible, try to follow some routines because friends and family. Let’s use technology
detail to share will depend on their ability to they provide comfort and a familiarity in well. Support your family and your
understand - age appropriate information their structure. Follow as normal a schedule children by reaching out regularly to
and following the rule of thumb, along with as possible. Try to maintain household rules friends and relatives during this time.
only answering the questions they ask there is and discipline. Rules and discipline provide • Stay vigilant around online schooling. This is
no need to give more information than what children with security. It is ne to let your new to all, so expect that your child will need
would satisfy their current question. They will children be more dependent on you at this supervision and guidance while working
come back to ask more when they are mentally, time. Things that may seem small to you, online. Children with learning concerns will
emotionally and psychologically ready to like watching television or having friends need more direct involvement and structure
do so. Young children will need simple, over, are important to your children and than same-age peers to get online work
concrete explanations of what is happening will be seen as big losses. Be patient and done. Ask for teacher support early. If your
and how it a ects them. For example, “Why help children think of alternative activities if child is struggling to learn at home, seek out
can’t I go and play with Peter yet?” If they have their regular activities are cancelled. Provide advice for what to try next.
a misunderstanding of events, correct them. plenty of opportunities for play and learn. • Stay realistic but reassuring about
But if you get “It’s just while we have to stay safe • Children cope better and recover sooner COVID-19. Remember, children process
and not spread the virus, hey mom?” then there when they help others because it creates things di erently from adults. Encourage
is no need to add more details. Their simple a sense of control and helps children feel discussion and questions but avoid
explanations may be exactly what they need better about themselves. Little things such ooding with facts. Children tend to
to believe to feel safe. The goal here is to try as drawing granny a picture and sending need straightforward answers to their
not to take away that sense of security they are it to her via WhatsApp can make a huge questions. Then wait and see what further
constructing for themselves. di erence to all, as can phoning a friend questions your answer brings. Answer those
who may be forgotten in the usual social questions in the same way, to the point and
Older children and teens will likely ask for and mix. There are many apps available that can reassuringly.
bene t from additional information about bring us “together” at this time, so let’s use
the situation and actions being taken in the them to break the disconnect. We need to change our thinking around
country. Also be sure to open conversations • For the older children and teens, another staying home due to COVID-19. Yes, the reality
about what they are seeing on social media way to encourage a child’s sense of control is present but there is also hope. If we dare to
such as Instagram. There is a lot of nonsense is to review your own family plan together. deconstruct the dominant negative narratives
doing the rounds that needs to be unpacked. What are we planning to do if x happens? and stand against these stories by breathing
Coming up with a family plan increases their life into alternate stories of hope and growth,
Saying “I do not know” is OK. Do not be sense of security. we then take a stance which is very di erent.
concerned about saying the perfect words, We are then a community working to protect
there are no perfect words. It is OK to say you the vulnerable among us. We are then building
do not know why it is happening or how to In summary: our “community”. We are then teaching our
solve it. The main goal is to reinforce that you • Focus on building resilience through some children solidarity and preparedness, as a
and your children are safe. Focus on the steps structure and routine. Our mental health family, as a community, and as a country. We
you are taking to become safe. If you can, point relies on our physical routines, all too easily are then rede ning our values and we will nd
out things like the social distancing and staying lost during challenging times. No routine gains during this challenging time.
home so that doctors and nurses can work to whatsoever is unsettling. Adults and children
help those a ected. They may also be worried may be happier with a rough schedule day to I leave you with a parting question:
about the safety of their friends or extended day.
family. Be honest if you really do not know, but • Exercise: Daily, or every second day, HOW OFTEN ARE WE GIVEN THE
reassure them that their friends’ parents are exercise will make your children happier, OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND 21 (OR
taking care of them. You might tell them about even if they complain. It will probably MORE) DAYS WITH OUR FAMILY?
how the doctors, nurses and government are make you happier too. Exercise a ects
working hard to ght against the virus; how the mood, energy level, learning, and more.
farmers are growing food; the grocery stores If you cannot get outside, Yoga or Pilates
are still open to ensure we can buy goods or are great, or seek out online exercise
how rubbish removal workers are keeping our apps. I also know some of our coaches
communities clean. are o ering training programs, make use
of their expertise and skills at this time. It
Limit exposure to the media creates connection and gives you, your
Try to monitor and limit your children’s children (and the coach) something to • Marital, Couples & Family
exposure to media, especially the news and fake ll a portion of the day. Therapy
news. News coverage is often overwhelming. • Sleep: A consistent routine, including a • Counselling Children,
Ultimately, it may change the way they view consistent bedtime, encourages better Adolescents & Adults
the world. They may begin to see it as a sleep. Sleep heals.
scary place. There is so much fake news and • Nutrition: Eat as healthily as you can. • “Teen” Challenges
conspiracy theories circulating currently on Cooking and baking are a great activity • Behavioural & Adjustment
social media that we need to be extra vigilant when inside all day and they build Challenges
about what teens and children are consuming. relationships. • Stress-Related Challenges
We need to try to encourage messages of hope • Screen time: I cannot stress this one • Adjustment to Depression &
and optimism. This helps build resilience. Even enough. Stay on top of screen time. Kids Anxiety
in the most di cult situation, your positive who spend too much time on screen get • Subject & Career Counselling
outlook on the future will help your children moody and edgy, especially the teens. • Psychometric Testing
see good things in the world around them, Open-ended limits lead to problems.
helping them through challenging times not Set limits where possible. For adults, you For an appointment please call
only now but in the future as well. may need to do the same, particularly 083 376 1995
by taking breaks from the news. There
are so many conspiracy theories going Fees are charged according to Scale of
Controlling the controllables around and these will escalate as Bene ts
Easier said than done but try and control what time progresses. Use time on-screen
you have control over and try not worrying wisely and concisely. Be critical of what Pr. Nr. 0860000114022
about what we cannot control. you consume as real. Reg. No.: PS 0080543
• Relationships: One of the best uses

BLUE VALLEY NEWS • Issue 2 2020 • 25