Coronavirus anxiety: how to cope with children’s stress and fear

As a rule, children tolerate COVID-19 easier than adults, but suffer no less. Depression, panic attacks, anxiety, eating problems, poor sleep, feelings of loneliness, isolation from the world — with such symptoms, adolescents are increasingly consulting doctors.

Until the age of five, the child cannot fully realize what is happening. If parents are in stress and panic, this will affect the child in the most negative way, since children at this age copy the emotional behavior of adults.

Up to three years, children react to any stress with somatic vegetative reactions: for example, they may have a fever for no reason. As they grow older, particularly after four years, severe stress in a child results in affective reactions, fears, and can lead to neurosis.

Therefore, it is very important to behave correctly in the presence of a child: not to demonstrate anxiety, a state of emotional impasse, or hopelessness.

It is necessary to discuss what is happening with teenagers, to explain that there is no catastrophe, that these are temporary difficulties, that the whole world is in such a situation and it is important to get out of it with new useful experience.

Draw up a daily routine for schoolchildren, so that they are as busy as possible: breakfast, lessons, extra activities, for example, drawing, helping mom, games. There should be no behavioral chaos. Your task is to create a system for a schoolchild to rely on in these difficult conditions.

For young children, playing games is important. If the child is stressed, games can become a kind of home psychotherapy. Games should be positive and constructive.

To relieve anxiety, spend more time with children. Body touch is a vital factor of emotional closeness, so give your kids hugs and kisses regularly.

This situation should strengthen the emotional contacts of family members. We always do not have enough time to speak with children, we try to do everything on the go, but now there is an opportunity to slow down. Don’t be afraid to express your emotions and say “I love you”. Reading the book The Many Ways To Say I Love You can be very helpful to realize how to enjoy the gift of love with our family in this troubled period.