Author: Laura Frank, M.A.
Recent research examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has identified key COVID-19-related stressors, including fear of infection, disruptions to school/leaning and daily self-care routines, and lack of access to reliable information and resources. Studies examining family stress have found that the intensity of these identified stressors are increasingly present for those caring for children during this time. Even more so, quarantine-specific stressors such as isolation, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, financial loss, and stigma have been found to be associated with psychological distress after quarantines of 10 days or more. Despite the knowledge surrounding mental health outcomes and the stressors present as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, little is known about how these factors will impact caregiver-child relationships. The role of caregiver behavior and coping responses to disasters has been established as a key predictor of children’s mental health outcomes in these situations. Research involving caregivers has found that supportive, responsive parenting practices, caregiver confidence in safety, and caregiver facilitation of discussions surrounding these events can act as a buffer in the relationship between disaster and children’s negative mental health outcomes. Responsive parenting practices include responding appropriately and consistently to children’s cues and bids for attention, which have long been identified as a contributor to positive cognitive, psychosocial, and behavioral in children. Though the literature outlines important factors in positive parenting, these general practices can encapsulate many different approaches.
The following is list of three parenting tips for navigating the COVID-19 as a caregiver:
1) Discuss COVID-19 with children
Being willing to speak about the pandemic honestly and openly is important. Facilitating this open communication through attentive listening and asking questions can help children learn more and feel less in the dark. However, it is important to consider the age of the child and how much they will understand. Reminding children that you are and they can talk to them any time is a key factor in keeping these lines of communication open.
2) Positively prompt behavior
Children are more likely to listen to positive instructions and when we specifically define the behavior we are looking for. Positive reinforcement, or rewarding a child when they produce a desired behavior, can help increase these behaviors.
3) Create structured routines
Create a schedule for both you and your children that has time for both structured activities, such as obligations, and include scheduled free time as well. Planning for routines each day and including children in this process when selecting activities and writing them out can help with managing stress and increased energy levels.
These three tips are a great jumping off point to effective caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more tips and guidance, please see the full list of strategies included in the following link:
https://www.unicef.org/media/67211/file
References:
Russell, B. S., Hutchison, M., Tambling, R., Tomkunas, A. J., & Horton, A. L. (2020). Initial challenges of caregiving during COVID-19: Caregiver burden, mental health, and the parent–child relationship. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 51(5), 671-682.
Unicef (2021). Coronavirus (COVID-19) parenting tips. https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/covid-19-parenting-tips