Another Newsflash?  What the heck now…?

Hearing that social distancing rules are likely to continue until, at least October, and most likely for considerably longer, really hit home with me today. Another wave of “I can’t believe this is actually happening” washed over me as I digested the prospect of being “holed up” for six more months.

I’m a pretty level headed person.  I’m not panicking, let me assure you.  Perhaps it would be more accurate to say I feel quite uncertain, unnerved and a little pensive about the future for all of us.  What about you?  Are you OK?

Like the majority of everyday Australians, I’m doing my bit by staying home, sewing face masks for my local hospital and ensuring I don’t contribute to the spread of COVID-19.  Plus… I really don’t want to catch it! 

So, I’m feeling gratitude for my comfy home where I can self distance during this global health crisis.  I’m grateful for my 2 little pooches and for my patient, wonderful husband who does all the shopping so that I can stay safe due to an autoimmune deficiency.  I've never enjoyed grocery shopping anyway.

In the main, here in Australia, we’re all committed to doing whatever it takes to get through this, all the while aiming to keep smiles on our faces.

There’s no sense in being miserable, is there?

But every day, we need to keep abreast of the status of the situation.  It would be irresponsible not to stay informed.  But the daily news brings us more and more reasons for concern, higher numbers on charts that we hoped we’d never see and news segments that call into question the ineffective strategies that some other countries seem to have in dealing with this killer virus and how it could impact on the entire world if they don’t finally get it right. 

What can we do to help?

Well, there are a number of actions we can take as a community to be of service to others.  The Care Army will go a long way to making life more tolerable for those who are age or health vulnerable to this virus.  Fantastic! Great idea!  Don’t you love when people band together (figuratively speaking) for the good of the community?  And it’s the young and the healthy that are shopping and doing tasks, chores for the vulnerable.  So, so great.  I feel very proud of our young people right now.  We really are a lucky country.

What else can we do to reduce the negative impacts of Covid-19?

I believe the next major concern is the emotional health and well-being of our little ones.  If we, as adults, are severely challenged by this new way of life, what might be going on in the overactive imagination/psyche of our youngsters?

Kids are the least vulnerable to the Coronavirus but arguably the most vulnerable to the emotional and mental health issues that could result from it. 

What our littlest loves are living through is traumatic, make no mistake.  And they DO worry.  We all know that.  How many children blame themselves if their parents break up?  Far too many.  That child has done nothing wrong.  And yet, he/she believes that in some way they caused the problem.

Consider, if you will, how this world tragedy might appear through the eyes of a child.

Can you imagine what’s going on between those millions of tiny ears?

What is this monster that no one can see? 

Why are we all frightened to go outside?

Why can't I hug my Nana or Aunties anymore?  

Just to mention a few of many, many more confusing thoughts circling through those young minds.  How do we age-appropriately explain today's way of life when, before Coronavirus, the most essential thoughts were no more testing than perhaps, "What's for tea?" or "When's the Easter Bunny arriving?".  

I’m suggesting that we read and listen to as much advice as we can on how to manage unusual childhood actions or reactions.  Poor behaviour in children is simply an indicator that some important need is not being met or that something has changed in the child's world and they can't comprehend why or, perhaps even express their fears. It's incredibly difficult to know the right thing to say a little one who expresses fear or displays anxiety, especially about this virus and what life might look like for the foreseeable future. 

The attached article from National Geographic is really helpful with excellent content.  Most of the content is common sense, but there's plenty of useful information and strategies to help children feel safe even in an unsafe situation, which is essentially where we all are at the moment.  I hope you find it useful.  If that's not your cup of tea, there’s plenty of information on the internet about helping children manage stress and what strategies to teach them to help them feel calm - just Google it!

Cabin fever

Being cooped up together for extended lengths of time brings its own battles, doesn't it? 

With all the love in the world, it's not easy to live this way, indoors for the majority of our waking hours.  Physical contact is something we, as humans, crave.  It helps us to thrive.  Having substantially reduced who we can spend time with or even hug, is bound to have an impact on little ones.   

I certainly feel concerned that my little granddaughters might be afraid to give me or Papa John a hug when this is all over.  Thankfully, their mummy is very aware and I know she'll do whatever she can to help her children through the transition when eventually we can once again hug till our heart's content!

Children express their mental state in many of the same ways as adults. 

Fear and anxiety can manifest in becoming withdrawn, unusual episodes of anger, exceptional non-compliance at a level not previously present as well as many more indicators that can be easily researched. 

Children absolutely thrive with boundaries in place.  It helps them feel safe.  But the rules have changed substantially in their young lives.  The fact that the goalposts had to be moved doesn't alter the fact that for kids, it's confusing.   Confusion always brings its buddies, "frustration" and "defiance" to the party.

My greatest fear is a legacy of increased childhood depression as a result of our safety strategies of the necessary isolation and distancing from those we love.  We could find ourselves in a complex, difficult and heartbreaking scenario that’s a completely different beast to tackle.  So we need to learn how to support our kids emotionally in very challenging circumstances.

Most of us have little expertise in child psychology.  Although I suspect paediatric psychologists will be in peak demand when we reach the end of this pandemic.   Ask most people and they would, I believe, agree that one of the most difficult challenges for any of us is to discuss a mental health/mental illness issue, thankfully it's slowly changing. 

However, it’s even tougher when we try to offer emotional support to a youngster.  We can feel like we’re meddling with something we know nothing about and feel we don’t want to add to the problem or make the person worse.

Many reading this may think I'm panicking or, god help me, scaremongering but it seems to me that it would be a really good idea to do some reading on the topic of finding strategies to support children experiencing emotional struggles.   Take advice from professionals online or why not GIVE some of your own knowledge, experience or advice if you've any to share?  Perhaps you’ve got just the answer someone’s seeking on how to manage the emotional concerns of a 5-year-old or a 13-year-old or even a toddler.

Share the love (or share your happiness strategies)

I’d love to hear how your family are coping and what strategies you’re using to maintain your children’s happiness factor.   If you’d like to share your ideas, send me a message through our contact us page and I’ll post it to our Community page and Facebook with your permission.

Sharing tools and ideas for managing potential conflict within the tribe, or even how your promoting positivity within your family will be so valuable to others.

These are exceptional times for our children to deal with. We need to put exceptional consideration towards situations and conditions that previously didn’t exist for them so that, in the end, we get through this with all those beautiful little hearts and minds still intact.

Stay safe.

Lorraine x
3 April 2020

Ps. I hope your little loves feel a little less anxious wearing our FREE superhero face masks available on our website (click here).  The general idea is that perhaps some children will be less anxious if they have a superhero on their side protecting them when they go outside.  Plus, it does help them to stop touching their face which is a very good thing.  That was my thinking anyway when I cut hundreds of them out for you to sew! 

But remember, they are not a toy and kids should be supervised at all times when wearing them.  Safety first and...