Helping Children Manage Emotions during Unsettled Times
by Kelly Moran
Parenting through the pandemic has presented challenges we never had before. Coronavirus has led to school closures, working from home, and isolating from others. Navigating the logistics of all this is hard enough for anyone. As a parent, trying to maintain control is even more difficult, especially if your children have trouble expressing emotions, utilizing coping skills, and understanding thoughts and feelings. The pandemic has strained the mental health of parents and children alike, which makes an already stressful environment more conducive for problematic behaviors.
As a parent during these unsettling times, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing. For starters, remind yourself that almost no one alive today has had to face anything like this before. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re not performing at the same parenting level you typically do. And avoid running yourself ragged trying to constantly maintain when life is forever evolving along with this virus.
It’s important to remember, as well, that the stress you are feeling your child may also be feeling. Having one trusted adult can be a powerful thing for them right now. Here are several ways you can enhance your relationship with your child and help maintain balance in your home.
- Teach your child about emotions. If your child is able to recognize various emotions, this can increase their ability to share thoughts and feelings. Explaining how emotions affect feelings and behaviors offers children a safe place to be vulnerable and honest.
- Always validate your child. Telling your child that you understand why they are feeling a particular emotion also shows them you are actively listening.
- Teach emotion regulation. Helping your child to manage their emotions allows you to engage in positive parenting and offer support. This is a great way to spend quality time together, developing coping skills and self-care you and your child can both use.
- Stick to routines whenever possible. With the pandemic dragging on and on, it’s easy to neglect routines. However, structure is key to your child maintaining positive mental and physical health and lifestyle.
These tips may be easier said than done, but gaining control and maintaining a happy home is sure to decrease stress in all family members. The future of the pandemic is still uncertain. Preparing yourself to deal with your child’s emotions can take a major load off parenting. Create a daily reminder of how well you are doing to keep negativity at bay, and celebrate efforts and success whenever you can.
References
American Psychological Association. (2020, April 20). Parenting during the Covid-19 pandemic. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/parenting-during-pandemic
Blum, D. (2020, November 12). The year in pandemic parenting. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/12/parenting/parents-kids-coronavirus.html
Child Mind Institute. (2022). For parents. The California Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids Project. https://childmind.org/healthyminds/parents/
