Helping Your Child Cope During the Covid-19 Pandemic

By: Suzi Naguib, Psy.D., Jeff Snyder, LMSW & the Sunfield Center Team

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially classified the novel coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, as a pandemic. This announcement led to a domino effect across the world – event cancelations, travel restrictions, and of course, school closings. As a parent, you’re likely feeling a mix of emotions, including concern about your child’s well-being. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to support your child in this complicated, scary time.

What is Covid-19?
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that are common in both people and animals. Usually, coronaviruses do not spread from animals to people; however, Covid-19, like the SARS and MERS viruses (also part of the coronavirus family), originated in bats.

While the outbreak of this virus started in Wuhan, China, Covid-19 has spread across the world. As of March 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are reporting a total of 1,629 cases in the United States.

Talk to your child about Covid-19.
With schools closing, it’s important to remember that not every child reacts to stress the same way. Some may be very worried, sad, or irritated, while others may act out or have difficulty paying attention. Keep an eye on your child and watch for potential signs of stress. Be sure to talk to them and answer any questions they have about Covid-19 in a way that they can understand. Remember to share facts about the virus and help reassure them that there are things they can do to stay safe.

Help your child form a new routine.
It’s important to help your child maintain a sense of structure while they’re away from school. Once it’s safe for them to go back, be patient while helping them return to their normal, everyday activities. Also try to limit their exposure to media coverage. While it’s hard to avoid the near-constant stream of news about Covid-19, it’s important to remember that children can be easily frightened by what they see on the news.

Take care of your own emotional health.
During an emergency like the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s normal to feel a mix of emotions. You may feel anxious and worried about what will happen to your loved ones if they’re exposed to the virus. You might find that it’s hard to sleep, concentrate, or even maintain your regular eating habits. As a parent, it’s important to take care of your emotional health, as children are affected by what they see from the adults around them. To take care of your own mental health, CDC recommends avoiding excessive exposure to media coverage surrounding Covid-19, taking care of your body by eating well, sleeping, and exercising, and making sure to take time to unwind. They also recommend connecting with friends and family (from a distance, of course) to share your concerns and maintain a sense of hope and positivity.

Additional Resources:
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
• Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event: https://emergency.cdc.gov/coping/index.asp
• Covid-19 Mental Health and Coping: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/coping.html
• Helping Children Cope with Emergencies: https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/helping-children-cope.html
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/
• WHO Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019