Table of contents:
- Stress in children during the COVID-19 pandemic and how to deal with it
- 1,024,298
- 831,330
- 28,855
- How to help children deal with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 1. The child's response to change in a supportive way
- 2. Pay extra attention
- 3. Maintain communication of the child with other family members
- 4. Describe the pandemic that is happening
The COVID-19 pandemic is a condition that affects the lives of many people. Its wider spread results in a lot of stress, anxiety and stress. Not only in adults, the psychological condition of children is also prone to disturbance. Therefore, parents need to help children overcome the signs of stress during a pandemic.
Stress in children during the COVID-19 pandemic and how to deal with it
Just like adults, children are also experiencing a crisis by feeling stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that children and adolescents are one of the groups that are vulnerable to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Fear and anxiety about an illness can cause strong emotions in both adults and children," writes the CDC.
The children lose their daily lives, have to study at home in completely different conditions from school and their movements are limited.
Seeing the risk of stress in children during the pandemic, child psychologist and observer Seto Mulyadi, also known as Kak Seto, reminded parents to pay more attention to children while studying at home.
"Please don't let children learn to become stressed and grumpy while studying at home," said Seto.
COVID-19 Outbreak updates Country: IndonesiaData1,024,298
Confirmed831,330
Recovered28,855
DeathDistribution MapKak Seto said that according to data from the Indonesian Child Protection Agency (LPAI), many children experienced stress due to the pressure that occurred at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please note that parental stress can have an effect on children. For example, stress when parents lose their jobs, economic difficulties, as well as when parents often quarrel or conflict during quarantine.
“So, the first thing we can do is understand how stress affects us (parents). You need to deal with stress on yourself before interacting with your child, ”says child psychologist Abigail Gewirtz.
How to help children deal with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic
Children often do not verbally express feelings of anxiety, anxiety, and stress. Children who are said to be stressed are usually seen from changes in their behavior. Signs of stress include changes in appetite, sleep problems, and mood swings.
Here are some ways that have been suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help children deal with stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. The child's response to change in a supportive way
Children can respond to stress in different ways, such as becoming more pampered, looking anxious, withdrawn, angry, restless, or wet the bed.
Respond to changes in the child's behavior by providing extra support and attention. Show yourself positive things when listening to them share their worries.
There is no need to force children to share their problems if they don't want to. Let them know that you are always there to help.
2. Pay extra attention
In line with the first point, to overcome stress for children during a pandemic, parents need to give extra love and attention.
During a pandemic, children need more love and attention from adults, especially their parents so they don't get stressed. Ask about the child's condition at one time or another, for example when you wake up in the morning, before lunch, and before going to bed at night.
3. Maintain communication of the child with other family members
Set aside special time for relaxing activities with children. Usually, they will feel happy if you can spend some time relaxing with them.
Encourage children to communicate regularly with relatives and other family members, for example by calling grandparents.
4. Describe the pandemic that is happening
Sudden changes in conditions and habits such as enforcement physical distancing certainly raises questions in the minds of children.
Explain the COVID-19 pandemic to children in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Don't forget to also explain how to reduce the risk of contracting the virus and why they shouldn't leave the house. Also tell the child not to be too anxious and stressed about the current pandemic condition.
