Children are vulnerable and being isolated from the rest of the world could be stressful for them.

The fact that social and physical contacts with others are reduced may cause a lot of frustration and boredom and may result into negative psychological effects such as irritability, emotional disturbance, anxiety or low mood. Having the children watching TV or playing video games all day long can aggravate the potential psychological impacts of the quarantine.

Furthermore, some studies have shown that the psychological effects of a quarantine could be long term, leaving the children with anxiety, fear, nervousness and social avoidance behaviour years after the quarantine, thus affecting their wellbeing.

The well-being of our children is of paramount importance. Single parents should be particularly careful as they already have to deal with sensitive children. They should make sure they take time and act effectively to avoid the negative impact of quarantine and preserve their children well-being.

Here are 5 things you must do every day to preserve your children wellbeing during quarantine:

  1. Keep them Learning:
    • During quarantine, it is of paramount importance that children continue to learn basic knowledge and skills. Liaise with their teacher to get their full academic program and build a daily schedule for learning activities. There are many educational resources online that you can use to have them practice their lessons, check online for available resources.
    • Plus, some premium educational websites and apps that previously required paid subscriptions are currently taking down their paywalls. Note that some of these programs require a teacher or school administrator to sign up (free) for students to gain access. Find out with the school what is available and search online for relevant online programs for your children’s level.
  2. Encourage them to Communicate:
    • Tell them what they need to know: This period is confusing for all, especially for kids. They do not really understand what is happening and the potential consequences. It is important to provide them with clear information , not too detailed though to avoid scaring them, but at least they should (i)know the reasons for quarantine and (ii) have a good understanding of the disease and the direct impact on their life (e.g. school closure, lack of supplies, reduction of social contacts) .Encourage them to ask questions and make sure to answer all the questions they may have.
    • Let them speak: We are usually so busy with work that we do not have enough time to listen to our children. We usually take decisions quickly because we feel are the best ones as we do not have time. Take this opportunity to listen to them, learn more  about  their feelings, their projects, their thoughts on any topic that is not related to COVID-19. It is time to have deep conversations, listen to them, share extensively and laugh together.
    • Make sure they keep contact with their friends: there are a lot of ways that enable them to keep contact with others: messenger kids, Whats App video call, video games online, etc. Talk with their friends and play with them will alleviate the frustration to not be able to have physical contact with them.
  3. Spark their creativity
    • Creativity is the freest form of self-expression: the ability to create something from their own without judgement   develops self confidence and problem-solving skills, By letting children be creative, we encourage them to explore different ways of solving problems or addressing situations, it helps them to better deal with uncertainty. Furthermore, the satisfaction to have accomplished something will boost their confidence in themselves.
    • Make sure you allocate time for creativity projects daily: It could be a painting project, a song,  a dance, a story that they will write themselves, a puzzle or Lego activity , anything that will allow them to express themselves openly, to use their own resources to create something.     
  4. Make them move:
    • It is important to keep your children active: they have a lot of energy and they should exercise at least one hour per day. Physical activity helps prevent or reduce health problems. With inactivity, it is likely that your children will gain weight or feel bored. Keeping them active will allow to burn calories, make bones and muscles strong and improve sleep and mental health.
    • There are many different ways to keep your children active while in quarantine: you can workout with them, practice some Just Dance moves, go for a walk. You could also have them participate in housework activities such as cleaning, washing dishes, cooking, etc. Make it fun and they will be happy to help…
  5. Let them play:
    • Structured activities are important but at a point of time you need to let them play what they want. Allocate time in the day for free play where they can choose the activity/ game of their choice. This will increase their independence and will give them a sense of freedom that is really important to have especially while in quarantine.

Make sure to do this daily and you will keep your children happiness and mental health together!

Download (free) the WELL-BEING ACTIVITIES CHECKLIST FOR KIDS to keep on track.