Covid-19 has upended every single person’s life on this planet. While people are now learning to live with it, things are likely going to be this way for the days to come. This one disease has redefined our normal, making us depend on masks and sanitisers now more than ever.
But, with the kind of impacts it has had on people’s minds, it has had an even worse impact on the minds of the adolescents and teenagers. Being stuck at home, with no social activities and schools and institutions closed, they have had to put their lives on a standstill.
Clinical directors and psychologists have stated that the constant feeling of boredom and social isolation has impacted the minds of the teenagers, leaving them in constant despair. But, even with such grave impacts, there are certain tips that the professionals have shared that could change the entire ball game.
Sort out a worry box
It might not seem like a lot and very useful but giving your child a healthy outlet to source out their worries is a lot better than them bottling things up. You can ask them to start journaling or even give them items that they can sort out their worries into. Let them write down the things that has been bothering them, it could be the constant loneliness or even the worry about the college placements because of the impacts of Covid-19 on the economy.
Focus on the screen time
With no way out of home and being stuck inside, kids have a tendency to develop an addiction towards digital distractions. If you don’t want things to become worse for them, one of the best ways is to limit their screen time and allot them specific times to learn and the rest for entertainment so they are not hooked to the screen for extended periods of time. Limiting the screen time also prevents them from having a rise in their anxiety after reading the news.
Calm yourself down too
Children look up to their parents for guidance. If you are seeing your child suffer, you need to realise that the last thing that you want to do is make things worse for them. You want to ensure that they take the time to focus on their behaviour. If you are panicking over the situation, don’t show it in front of your kids. You don’t want to burden them more than what they already are. But, at the same time, you do need to teach them that there is nothing wrong with vulnerability as well. You just have to be careful that it doesn’t end up taking a toll on you in the long run.
Let the future unravel itself
If you are trying to foresee the future and try to make out what kind of jobs will work and what kind of internship your kid can enroll themselves in, you need to reassess your priorities. The last thing that you want is to put excess pressure on them. They are likely already stressed with the possibility of the lack of jobs in the economy. You don’t necessarily want to make things worse for them. Instead, guide them to find some ways to enhance their skills even more.
Teach them to be grateful
It is easy for everyone to see the negatives in life and complain. If your kids have been struggling with the same, try and teach them gratitude. Let them know how privileged they are to have a roof over their head and meals to eat. Several kids in such rough times don’t even have that. Letting your kids see the positives to their life can make them be hopeful of the situations surrounding them, bringing them out of their constant despair and reverie.
Let them stay connected
Every adolescent’s life is surrounded by friends and social interaction. Now that they have been cut off from that luxury, it is important for you as a parent to ensure that they have proper channels of communication. Let them talk over the phone, video chat and catch up with their lives. It is very important that your kids have that sense of normalcy in their lives.
Don’t let them mess up their routines
As boring routines are, they are what provide structure to one’s life. So, in case you have been trying to harbour normalcy in your kid’s life to let them recover from the impacts of Covid-19, it is necessary that you make them stick to their old routine. If they had school from 8-4, let them work according to the time table and get the breaks they need. Encourage them to adapt to the new normal but also hold on to the past ones.
Step out of the house
Lastly, it is extremely important that you step out of the house and take your kids along with you. Letting them walk out in the nature is important. It is necessary to help improve their social skills and even instil a sense of independence. An evening walk helps improve the overall levels of endorphins in their mind, helping improve their sense of calmness and happiness in their minds.
If you have been witnessing something amiss with your kids, it is important to ensure that you take the time out to talk to them and assure them of the positive days that are to come. That is what matters in the end.
