As families adjust to a ‘new normal’, a range of difficult emotions can be experienced by parents and children. Parents may experience stress and anxiety as they navigate the impact of COVID-19 and uncertainty of how long restrictions will continue. When children are stressed they often display out of character behaviours, due to their difficulty in regulating emotions.

Advice for parents 

• Read official websites – it is important to obtain information about COVID-19 from a reliable source, like the Australian Government, rather than social media
• Validate your children’s feelings – taking time to listen to how children are feeling can help them cope with difficult emotions
• Take time out for you – if you support yourself, you can better support your children

How to address children’s anxiety

• Understand you are the most important safe place for your children
• Establish a new daily routine together
• Try to model seeing the best in others and situations
• Get outside and move your bodies, remembering to properly distance from others
• Ask: 'what I am grateful for today?'

Consider mindfulness

Research shows that mindfulness meditation can reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. Some resources to consider are:

• Family COVID-19 mindfulness 10-minute practice (scroll to the bottom of the page and listen to ‘Try a meditation to help with stress’)
• Smiling Mind Mindfulness practice

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michelle Kennedy is a PhD candidate researching how mindfulness can help learning in anxious young people. She is an experienced educator, specialising in emotional, social and academic development of children.

Sources: Greater Good Science Centre, Conscious Discipline -Dr Becky Bailey