10 Parenting Tips to Help During COVID-19

The US and the world are experiencing unparalleled health, economic, financial and emotional consequences due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. As we grapple with day to day uncertainty, parents are particularly challenged with helping their children cope effectively.  Below are several tips and behavioral strategies for parents developed by Science Cheerleader Felecia, a doctor in Clinical Psychology.

Dr. Felecia’s 10 Tips: 1. Routine

Try to stick to a daily routine for your family. Routines provide structure to the day and help children with daily behavioral expectations.

2. Sleep

Maintain a regular sleep schedule for your children. Although children don’t have to get up to leave the house for school, keeping a consistent wake up and bedtime will help minimize the likelihood of them developing sleep issues.

3. Family Time

Maintain protected family time. With everyone doing their own thing in their rooms, it might be easy to slip into a routine of not carving out together time. Consider eating at least one meal together each day to catch up and see how everyone is coping.

4. Activity

Get moving! Try to have your family engage in some sort of physical activity each day for at least 30 minutes. Low stress ideas include stretching, yoga, jump rope or even dancing to YouTube videos.

5. Creativity

Arts and crafts help boost creativity. Consider scrap booking projects or making photo collages to display  past birthday, trips, and holiday pictures. You can also find a project on SciStarter to get some at home ideas!

6. Flexibility

Stay flexible! Make sure that you leave room in your daily routine for those things that may come up unexpectedly.

7. Quiet Time

Be sure to allow yourself and family daily alone time. This will help give yourselves a chance to rejuvenate. Consider using the many available meditation and relaxation apps. (Breathe2relax, Calm, Insight Timer)

8. Connect

Be sure to encourage your children to stay connected with family and friends. Although you and your family may not be able to get together in person, consider using technology platforms like FaceTime, WhatsApp video, Line etc. to maintain family bonds and support.

9. Monitor Social Media

Be sure to oversee what your child/teen is posting and reading on social media platforms. With the recent deaths and trauma due to online bullying, it is important to make sure that your child is not being bullied or bullying others online.

10. Teach Safe Internet Habits

Make sure to warn your children about potential online dangers including entering chat rooms. Warn them about not sharing personal information with people on the internet including information that could lead a potential predator to your home, neighborhood or their school.

Additional Parenting Resources

InfoAboutKids.org

The National Parenting Center

Resilience Booster is a Parent Tip Tool developed by APA’s Children, youth, and Families Office and its Office on Socioeconomic Status.

Military OneSource provides materials and information on programs for military parents.
Phone Numbers
Toll-Free: 1-800-342-9647
En español llame al: 1-800-342-9647
TTY/TTD: Dial 711 and give the toll-free number 1-800-342-9647

Parenting2Go app helps veterans and service members reconnect with their children and provides convenient tools to strengthen parenting skills.

Copyright © 2020 Felecia D. Sheffield. PhD, HSP All Rights Reserved Worldwide in all Media.

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