7 Ways to Promote Emotional Wellness in Kids During COVID

As distance learning starts to wind down and we embark upon a summer like never before, families are preparing to make even more transitions. New York is starting to slowly reopen and parents are preparing to pivot once again. It’s a good time to take a metaphorical temperature check on your children. How is everyone doing? Even if you don’t think your children are stressed out or severely affected by the quarantine and worries of COVID-19, it’s a good time to up your parenting game when it comes to fostering emotional wellness. There are some key CDC guidelines on how to help children during COVID. But there’s even more we can be doing in the meeting emotional needs of kids. Here are 7 simple ways to promote wellness in children right now.

Be extra supportive of your child.

Your unconditional love is going to be buttressed by providing unconditional support right now. Check in with your children every few days or at least once a week and remind them that part of your job as a parent is to answer any of their questions and provide support, says psychologist, author, and speaker Dr. Nekeshia Hammond. This conversation may take different forms depending upon the ages of your kids but the message should be the same: love, empathy, understanding, and seeking to help. And this goes for everything from circumstantial anger and sadness, to homework frustrations, to friendship drama that’s unfolding virtually. Parents can also model good, effective coping skills, says clinical psychologist Dr. Bruce L. Thiessen. Speak openly and calmly about your own anxieties or issues and your children will become better at adapting during periods of crisis.

Be active.

Now is the time to teach your child a new skill like riding a bike or swinging a baseball bat. Spend plenty of time dancing and singing around the house. Or you may want to introduce your kids to yoga. “Encourage them to be engaged in activities that bring them joy, reduce their stress level, and increase their positive sense of self,” Hammond suggests.

Be creative.

The at-home activities are potentially endless. Hammond suggests asking younger children what they might enjoy doing. You can suggest science experiments using household items, or a scavenger hunt around the house or backyard. “Most children are missing their friends, so finding activities where they can interact socially is very important right now,” she adds. What’s more, this period of extended isolation may be leaving some kids deprived of touch, says Thiessen. To remedy, he recommends activities like drawing, painting, sculpting with clay, playing music, and anything that stimulates the senses in tactile ways.