Your Child’s Mental Health and Virtual Learning
An unprecedented school year is upon us and with that comes uncertainty. With COVID-19 still wrecking havoc across the country, most schools have resorted to virtual distanced learning with the hopes that face-to-face learning can resume come Fall time. Many school districts have been under strict virtually distanced learning since the Spring.
There have been many mixed emotions and thoughts for parents, educators and kids alike. Some are happy with the virtually distanced learning outcome as they are relieved that their children are learning from the safety of their own home. For someone like myself, virtually distanced learning has added an entirely new dynamic to our household as we’ve had to pivot and adjust our schedules to accommodate the distanced learning. Although the transition has been somewhat seamless up to this point, it certainly hasn’t been easy.
I’ve also see the impact that virtually distanced learning has had on my child’s mental health that was evident within his first week of first grade. School has been a huge part of my child’s social life and it has allowed him the opportunity of self-expression, building on his emotional intelligence and conflict resolution. My son has had a difficult time not being able to interact with his peers on the level he was accustomed to last year, and it’s caused his mental health to decline. I’d be lying if I said that it hasn’t impacted my mental health because now there is anxiety surrounding helping my child keep up with school work and his distanced learning. His daycare providers and teachers have played an intricate role in helping this part be successful, but as household who has two full-time working parents, it’s been difficult for us to manage.
I don’t necessarily get to be “mom” when I get home from work. I’m now his “teacher” and it’s been hard navigating this divide. He’s learning to resent me because I’m concerned with his education and how unique it’s been for him since starting kindergarten last year. I’ve seen my son become a bit more depressed and he’s usually exhausted by 7pm. It’s been painful to witness. I am honestly happy that my deaf son isn’t attending school yet because he’s only 3. I cannot imagine how much more difficult this would be for him.
Establish Healthy Habits
I think we can all agree with now, more than ever, proper sleep and nutrition as well as exercise needs to be a primary focus for our children. We cannot let our typically healthy routines slip during these times, because it can have a detrimental impact on a child’s overall well-being. Establish a consistent bedtime routine ensuring that your child goes to bed at a decent time to allow them adequate sleep to accomplish all that they’ll need to achieve the next day. Get your child outdoors and active as well. Whether it’s riding their bike, jumping on a trampoline or engaging in a dance party, get them active whether outdoors or indoors. Establishing healthy eating habits will help them as well. Watch their sugar intake and give them the foods that will fuel their mind and body, not assist in sabotaging it.
Designate a Workspace Specific to Your Child
With distractions being so readily available, it’s important to minimize those by designating a workspace for your child. Try to remove toys, games and electronic devices. Try letting your child design their workplace. If your child is at a daycare center, work with the daycare staff and teachers to help coordinate a workspace that works for your child. After meeting with a teacher from my son’s daycare, we quickly determined that his workspace had to be specific to him to help minimize distraction. Every noise and movement derails my son’s train of thought, so my son is at a table specific for his needs. I’ve made it a point to order him noise-cancelling headphones to drown out access sound and blue light glasses to help with his vision. Additionally, I have a mouse to go with his school computer to help deal with arm fatigue he has expressed he was experiencing. Anything I can do to help minimize his distractions is necessary to ensure he is staying engaged during his virtual learning.
Keep your Child Connected
If you want to further enhance and develop your child’s interpersonal skills, social interaction needs to be a necessity. By maintaining social interaction, it’ll help prevent children from experiencing loneliness, anxiety and depression as a result of not being able to see their teacher, their peers, family or friends. Thankfully, technology has equipped us with the tools to ensure that social interaction and connection still happens. Try scheduling virtual playdates or FaceTime with friends or family. Try being more connected with your child by allowing them to help you cook or bake. If your child is a bit older, help them set up socially distanced gatherings with their friends and family.
Talk Through It
During these unprecedented times, the easiest way to navigate it is by talking about it. Make yourself available whether it’s with those involved in your child’s learning and education or yourself as a parent. Your willingness alone to talk and listen will help your child feel more comfortable and confident within the situation. Ask leading questions like, “How are you feeling about the school year thus far?” or “Is there anything I can help you with?” or Are you anxious or concerned about school right now?” Set aside any opinions or stresses you have associated to the school year and let them talk. Be calm, cool and collected as this will help with their fears and any anxieties they might have of the school year.
Routine, Routine, Routine
COVID-19 has drastically impacted my children’s lives. My oldest son isn’t physically attending class. He isn’t seeing his friends or family as often like he’s grown accustomed to and he isn’t able to participate in other fun extracurricular activities like attending live sporting events, playing at parks and more. By establishing some sort of a routine, it helps create a sense of normalcy for your child. It gives them a sense of security to lean on as they experience very actively the unknown. If your child is not in a daycare setting where they are attending school virtually, establish a routine at home similar to a normal class schedule.
Establish and Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness isn’t just for adults. Practicing mindfulness or mediation helps to reduce anxiety and increase happiness for many people, so if your child is experiencing anxiety or is overwhelmed, help them establish and practice mindfulness. There is yoga and mediation practices specifically designed for kids.
Let them Play
All our children know, thanks to the media and the situation at hand, is that the coronavirus is serious. We need to be mindful and prevent our children from spending their time worrying or stressing out about this pandemic. Make time for your child to be a child. Let them play. Let them have fun. Let them enjoy being a kid, safely. Engage even more with your child by building indoor forts, going on nature walks or establishing and engaging in a weekly family game or movie night. This will strengthen the family unit and help everyone to reconnect as well.
Let them Be Upset
Your child is first-hand experiencing these unprecedented times. They’re scared. They’re unsure. They’re experiencing a sense of the unknown, and it’s our duty as parents to allow our children to cope in a way that helps them get through these weird times. Let them mourn what their expectations were of this school year compared to what it is. Let them be upset. It’s natural and will help mature their emotional intelligence in ways we cannot even fathom.
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Educators, parents and children are adapting to this pandemic in their own ways. During these times, it’s more important than ever to monitor and pay close attention to your child’s mental health. Be supportive. Be engaged. Practice grace because everyone is trying the best they can during these times.
