25/03/2020
Coronavirus: Lets help children through isolation and lockdown situaton!
The lockdown Situation which is done to slow down the spread of the novel corona virus, parents of special need children have a big challenge as it is a game changer for families , displacing children from their friends and class mates , learning procedure and their school community . To help them out to make them understand the situation of isolation and the importance of lock-down, we need to consider how this kind of new world looks and feels to them.
Infact its too hard to just soothe the situation away and keep them to the normality . Its very important to make them understand the key message seriously. As any parent knows,this is not a piece of cake , and that is not much easy to get them to wash their hands again and again and stop them not to touch their faces . But there are a few things which we can do , to make them understand the case easily, and get them to collaborate.
Children are often soothed by touch. Touch calms the heart rate, and allows children to feel secure, so we can expect them to be more clingy and in need of affection at such an unsettling time. But if a parent has a cough and canât be physically close to their children â even teenagers â this will be exceptionally hard for them to cope with.
In the meantime, ask them how you can help them feel better. Children are unique and resourceful, so itâs important to keep the communication open. Even if there is no easy answer, they will hear that you have noticed them in the midst of the crisis. Be aware that children and young people will be hearing news broadcasts and adult conversations â they know when we are worried, and they will be hearing stories of death everyday, which is deeply unsettling.
If they have direct questions about the pandemic, it is best to answer honestly, but also positively. You can tell them that: âSome people have died, yes, but not children. And washing our hands and staying at home is helping all of us stay safe.â Diverting their attention is a powerful alternative. You can use games, cooking activities, stories and conversation starters to take the attention away from frightening talk of the virus.
childrenâs sense of time can be quite different from adults, with hours and days feeling much longer. If in isolation, keep a tally on when you may be able to come out and let them tick off the days on a chart.
Also make sure to keep a routine. Children and young peopleâs lives are punctuated with school times, home time, meal times and bed times. Donât let this go out the window. Keep a schedule of daily activities, including reading and maths sessions, and learn from those who have been doing this already as part of the home learning community.
And when it comes to hygiene, donât forget that children love play. Turn the handwashing into soapy hand monsters and soapy handwashing races. Get soaps in different colours and smells, invite them to play with it in the sink, play music to get their 20 seconds in, and do it together.
Ultimately, children will need to accept that we have to do this to make sure we are safe. It will pass. Be aware of the horror stories circulating on social media and try to diffuse these as best you can â they are not helping anyoneâs mental health. And think carefully about the TV and films you allow them access to â it may be wise to avoid anything too close to home.