Since COVID-19 was ruled a pandemic, parents and children have been adjusting to a new way of life. From school changes and medical scares, keeping your children positive can seem impossible.
The truth is that keeping your children positive during this time can actually help them learn how to cope with big challenges in the future. But, understanding and dealing with this kind of bad news can be difficult for a child.
If you're struggling with keeping your child positive during these times, keep reading for great tips on how to keep your children positive during coronavirus updates.
Address Any Existing Questions
Your child is bound to have some already existing questions. They may be wondering why they aren't going to school or why they can't see their friends.
Make sure to address these and other questions sensitively and completely. If you're not sure of the answers, just tell your child that you'll look it up and let them know. Better yet, you can teach them where to look for reliable and accurate information.
If you leave these questions unanswered, your child may get answers from worrying sources or be left with unresolved anxiety.
Keep in mind that your child is hearing coronavirus updates from all different kinds of sources. They may be hearing things from the news, from kids at school, and even from you. Be careful about how you're phrasing things and fact-check other things they've heard.
Encouraging Good Hygiene
While you're covering coronavirus updates with your child(ren), you should continue to remind them about good hygiene habits. Your children aren't likely to wash their hands several times a day, but they can use our hand sanitizer quickly and easily.
Keep the hand sanitiser in a busy place in your home. Your whole family is bound to use it regularly.
You should also have reminders around the house as well. Display important reminders about cleanliness around your house with our free COVID-19 Care Leaflet.
Find Alternatives
The coronavirus pandemic has caused all kinds of disruptions in our everyday lives. From retail outlets to dining and entertainment centres, things certainly look and feel different from before.
Children may have trouble coming to terms with the fact that they can't go to school, see their friends, or go out and play. We've already addressed that you should explain why they can't see them.
However, you should also help them find alternatives to their normal routine. When your child normally goes to school, you should conduct a school-like environment. When they normally spend time with their friends, try to set up a video chat or phone call.
The key to helping your children adjust to a new schedule is trying to make the new schedule as similar to the old schedule as you can. Your child needs to have some sort of continuity while they're adjusting to a new world.
The best person to lead them through these changes is you. You're the one who knows them best.
Discuss Symptoms
Your children may have trouble recognising the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 without your guidance. Make sure that you're telling your children about common coronavirus symptoms so that they can let you know if they're feeling poorly.
Let your child know that they can come to you if they believe that they're experiencing any symptoms. You should also encourage them to keep their hands to themselves during this time. If they're having trouble, encourage hand-washing breaks and hand sanitiser.
If you have a very young child, recognising symptoms may be difficult. One of the best ways to identify a coronavirus infection is through body temperature.
You can monitor your child's fever using our FeverMates. These stickers can help you identify a fever on your children for up to 48 hours.
Boost Their Immune Systems
If you're worried about your child's immune system, you may want to consider giving them an extra supplement. During the time of the coronavirus, your children may benefit from a boost.
Immune-boosting supplements may help your children fight the virus if they contract it. They're even great for adults.
If you're looking for a great supplement for you, your children, and the rest of your family, we have our own immune-boosting powder that is useful for all of your family members. You should make sure to let your family members know about these supplements, especially if that family member is immunocompromised.
Talk to Others
If you're meeting others, discuss how comfortable you are with distance. While you're deciding your comfort level, you should discuss these boundaries with your child(ren).
Help your child explain their boundaries with others. They should know how to remind others to leave one and a half metres of space between them.
Having conversations with family members and friends about healthy practices around your child is important for protecting everyone's health.
If your child is younger or needs reminders, we have the perfect fix. Our COVID-19 Awareness Wristbands can remind others to keep their distance while making sure that your child is also reminded to keep their distance. We also have a wristband that will help your children remember to repeatedly wash their hands.
We do highly suggest that you avoid crowds right now. However, we do understand that essential trips like those to the grocery store can leave you and your family in an uncomfortable position.
Set an Example
Your children are always watching you so that they can see what is and isn't considered acceptable in different situations. This is a lot of pressure, especially during these circumstances. However, it's also good to know that you can set a fantastic example for them.
When you're faced with an obstacle, it's important to show your children how you would expect them to act in that situation. For example, you may be concerned that a family member may contract COVID-19. If this is so, you should show your child how you reason through the situation and schedule a video chat with them.
Another way that you can set a good example for your child is by wearing the appropriate gear. You should be wearing a mask when you're in public as it is recommended everywhere and required in most locations.
You may notice that your child will begin problem-solving in the same way that you are. This will be useful during the pandemic and in any future situations that are unprecedented.
Reassure Your Child
Your child may not show it, but they're probably concerned about where you're going. They want to make sure that you're going to come back healthy and safe.
If you are working during this time or have to make a short trip somewhere, you should share this with your child. Let them know where you're going and about how long you'll be gone.
Letting your child know your whereabouts is important. Many children see the rest of the world as a big, scary setting right now. If you're honest about what you're doing and how long you'll be gone, your child will be more at ease.
Anxiety is a completely natural reaction for children during this time. Just make sure that you're being understanding if your children express their worry.
Restructure Your Discipline
You may find that your child is acting differently during this time. Their behaviour could be poor because of anxiety and worry.
Exercise positive discipline techniques. While this kind of parenting is preferred, it is especially useful during the coronavirus pandemic.
If you notice that your child is acting up more than usual during this time, continue to adhere to positive disciplining. Balance this with diverting their attention, giving time-outs, and using reward systems. Depending on how bad their behaviour is, you may decide that a good talk can remedy the situation.
As your child adjusts, you may find that certain discipline techniques work better than others. You may also notice that those discipline techniques you've used before no longer work. For example, grounding your child may be more difficult.
Coronavirus updates and health
Guiding your child through the mental and emotional changes that come with a pandemic can be difficult, but some minor changes can help the transition go smoothly. Keep in mind that you're also experiencing a transition.
The most important thing right now is to keep your family healthy. To do that, you need to equip you and your family with the right supplies and information.
For help keeping healthy during these times, you can depend on our products here at FeverMates. You can check out our current sales here. We also provide coronavirus updates on our blog.
Remember to use our Australian hand sanitiser
Our Australian hand sanitiser is proudly Australian-made and owned. Ensure you are protected when you do not have access to soap and water. We have hand sanitiser 500ml or hand sanitiser 60ml. Our hand sanitiser comes in both a spray and gel. You can buy hand sanitiser online with us at Fevermates.