Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition

With all the health dangers of the pandemic, it is quite a relief to know that kids appear to be less affected by COVID-19 than adults. However, if the children have pre-existing medical conditions, they may have a different risk associated with mental, emotional, and physical malfunction. With that, parents should take extra care to keep the children safe. But note that children’s needs vary from one person to another, so some tips might not be suitable for some kids.

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Explain The Situation In The Most Simplest Way – Kids are smart. They know what is happening around them, but they don’t have that specific understanding of the ways of adjustments. With that, parents must explain to the kids the situation in the way that it won’t add fear and anxiety. That way, kids will understand the significance of frequently washing their hands, social distancing, and proper self-care.

Do Not Panic – Parents can help children adjust to the new normal provided that they are mentally and emotionally stable. When parents panic, it becomes easy for the kids to feel the same. From there, the children will start to show anxiety symptoms. Parents should assure the kids that everything will pass and that there is nothing to worry about. Parents’ continual assurance is essential in keeping the kids emotionally safe and secure.

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Never Let The Children Listen to Anything From The Media – The media are all hyped up, and it doesn’t give people an entirely accurate picture of what’s happening. Therefore, it would be much better if parents limit the kids’ access to negative news updates concerning the Coronavirus. That is to avoid adding damage to their emotional and mental issues, especially when the news is about the rising number of infected people and their death.

Consider Home Schooling – If parents think that their children are vulnerable to the infection, it is much better that they let the kids stay at home. If they believe that it is not safe to send kids to school, that is fine. They still have the option to home school them. Aside from that, parents can utilize the internet and enroll their kids for online classes.

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Do Something Fun With The Kids – It is a significant moment for kids to bond and have fun with their family. Thus, doing activities together during this time is essential. All family members can play indoors, learn to cook, read books, sing karaoke, and many more. However, parents should consider limiting screen time for the kids. That way, the kids won’t feel drained and exhausted from too much gadget exposure.

Always Stay On Schedule – The children’s adjustment period may depend on the routines they do every day. Thus, transitioning from one routine to the other may become challenging for some. Parents shouldn’t waver too much on the necessary things that children must do. These include playing, sleeping, eating on time, watching TV, and using digital devices. There will be little to no disturbance on the children’s schedule if parents can handle the transition slowly.

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Allow Social Connection Through Digital Access – The children suffer from emotional issues now that they are locked up. Thus, some of them are entirely eager to go outside and be with people. Nevertheless, to avoid the danger of carelessness, kids must stay socially connected with friends, classmates, and family despite the physical distancing protocol. That way, they will not feel alone and isolated.

At this time of the global crisis, it is hard for parents to see their children in such an unfortunate situation. But through proper care and considerations, parents can help their kids adjust to the new normal.

 

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The pandemic situation can cause a lot of stress and difficulties, especially within a family. That is due to their limited access to the outside world that makes them think they are locked up in an unwanted situation. With that said, the inability to explore can cause toxicity because there is too much emotional and mental pressure to handle in a roof. Fortunately, there are ways that help improve family relationships, especially in this pandemic time.

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Increase Physical Contact

A family relationship becomes fragile when members begin to ignore the importance of physical connection. At some point, parents and children can become reluctant to hugging or kissing because those actions are no longer considered cool anymore. Thus, members of the family keep physical affection to a minimum. However, it shouldn’t be like that. Hugging and kissing are physical traits that remind everyone they are not alone. And during this pandemic time, everyone needs someone to hold onto.

Understand Each Other’s Responsibilities

Since the pandemic situation limits people to do things they need to do, more responsibilities tend to stick up on their plates. That is the reason why members of the family often ignore their duties. So to avoid that, parents and children should come up with an engaging activity that all of them can compromise doing. It will be easier for everyone to adjust and put quality time with each other despite the pressure and emotional exhaustion of being home-quarantined.

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Limit The Use of Technological Devices

The use of technological devices skyrocketed right after the start of the global lockdown. That is because people get more drawn to their smartphones and computers for the sole purpose of news and entertainment. But the habit becomes a danger to the family relationship since it promotes isolation inside the house. So for that thought, it would better if members of the family consider putting their devices aside and spend more actual time with each other. Because during these bad days, it is essential to appreciate your loved ones.

Discuss Things Before Transitioning

The pandemic situation is the cause of people’s inability to secure a normal routine. Therefore, inside the house, things can be a little different from the way it was before. For parents and children, it can be stressful. So before each member ends up changing their actions, they all need to discuss things before jumping to any transitions. Members of the family must understand each and everyone’s needs in times of crisis, whether it might be physical, emotional, or mental aspects.

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Obtain A Meaningful Conversation

Sustaining a strong relationship with parents or children is difficult during this pandemic time. At some point, an invisible distance gets created even though people are within reach. Sometimes putting an effort to connect becomes minimal to none. With that, all members of the family must practice having a meaningful conversation. 10 to 15 minutes of heart-to-heart talk can mean a lot. There is no required time for it as long as both parties value the presence of each other.

Encourage Necessary Emotional Response

In times like this that no one is certain about the future, it is crucial to maintain emotional and mental health. With that, parents and children must learn to encourage themselves to use the right emotional response. And since everyone is facing the pandemic stress differently, it is essential to be mindful of respecting each other’s thoughts and feelings. That instead of shutting them out or dismissing their feelings, members of the family should build a strong relationship through constant communication.

The 2018 Family Problems Symposium organized by the Child Abuse Prevention Council explains the scope of child abuse, the community’s efforts against it, and new preventive approaches and treatments. Many children, unfortunately, have gone through some sort of abuse growing up, imprinting deeply into their young minds.

When a child experiences abuse, they instinctively confide in another trusted adult, yet their voices fall silent. To prevent or spot these inhumane acts, we need to educate ourselves about the forms and signs of child abuse.

Physical Abuse
This happens when a parent or caregiver injures a child on purpose. The more obvious signs are bruises and cuts from kicking, beating, and choking, among others. Children who go through this abuse at home are typically scared to go home. Meanwhile, abusive parents often have a hard time explaining the child’s injuries.

Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is exposing a child to any sexual activity like fondling, intercourse, oral-genital contact, or exploitation or exposure to pornography. Children who experience sexual abuse may have a hard time walking or sitting. They may also report scary dreams or wet the bed or refuse to change into their gym clothes, fearing the familiar undressing. They also have an unsettling familiarity with sex and sexual behavior, and they may get attached to strangers quickly.

Emotional Abuse
This form of abuse may be hard to prove, and signs may show through another kind of abuse. Emotional abuse prevents children from having positive self-worth because of verbal and emotional assault like belittling, berating, rejecting, or isolating a child. Surfacing signs are attempted suicide, extreme passive or active behavior, and the lack of attachment to the parent.

Medical Abuse
Medical abuse occurs when people give false information about a child’s injury or condition, refusing the child of the needed healthcare and treatment.

Neglect
This form of abuse is the failure to adequately provide a child’s necessities like food, water, shelter, clothing, affection, and medical treatment, among others. Neglect becomes evident when a parent abandons their well-being, and haphazardly uses drugs and alcohol.

Many cases exhibit evidence that a child’s abuser is often somebody they trust. Sickeningly, it may be parents, relatives, or a grown-up with authority. The responsibility falls on us sensible adults to call out abusers and predators, and this responsibility encompasses all children, whether they are related or not related to you.

Some teenagers may appear smart, but deep inside they have many insecurities that they sometimes choose to be alone and some of them even fall into depression.

 

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When the topic of divorce hits the household, the stress level escalates not only between parents but also among children. They already hold the feeling of uncertainty the moment they sense that parents are no longer showing the natural affection they have for each other. This ambivalence can result in many harmful behaviors of the child. It is best that parents should be honest and inform children on what’s the real score between them. This article will present some ways on how to spill the beans with children without compromising the relationship of the child with either parent.

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Teenage is the most exciting part of one’s life.  It comes with the gift of optimism, passion, fun, excitement, and experience of many colors. It was the best moment of my life, and I want my daughter to make the most of her teenage life, too, by allowing her to experience new good things.

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High school crushes are among the most exciting part of the whole school experience.  Whether your crush reciprocates your feelings or not, it does not matter.  You may get hurt, but it’s the thrill that comes with it that often matters in the end.

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It was my parents fear’ when I was in my adolescent years, and I fear the same now that I have a teenager in our home.  I cannot imagine my daughter engaging in sexual activity at such an early age.

 

 

Moreover, it is much more stress for me now because of the influence of social media and the internet.

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As a young girl, I have painted in my mind what my ideal man would be.  As a young lady, I have already planned my dream wedding.  And after I got married, I looked forward to becoming a mother.  But this time, I wondered what kind of mother I would be.

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