The Covid-19 epidemic that emerged today has led to changes in our lives. This epidemic, which affects all ages, has caused physiological, psychological and behavioral problems. In this process, staying away from our daily lives, needs, people or activities that are good for us is not called asociality but "sacrifice". When we consider psychological problems, we can see that the level of anxiety and stress is high in this process. Because it is very natural and understandable to feel anxious and stressed in this period of high uncertainty. What matters is the way we deal with these emotions. The way each individual copes with stress; It varies depending on many factors such as personality, age, socio-economic-cultural level, values, life philosophy, living standards.
Of course, children also have ways of coping with this process. At this point, the behavior of families plays a big role. Modeling behavior affects the child's future personality and the parent-child relationship. For this reason it should not be ignored. Giving evasive answers to the child not only undermines confidence but can also lead to more confusion. Children between the ages of 3 and 5 may show their concern about being harmed by becoming addicted to you. This is normal behavior. It is necessary to calm them down and make them feel safe. While doing this, it would be healthy to speak in a calm and soft tone of voice, make them feel that you will always care about them, comply with their daily routines, and play games that reflect the concern of being harmed. Since the virus is an abstract concept, it may be difficult to understand at this age. Pictures and stories can be effective to concretize the virus in the child's mind. It is important not to give way to unnecessary concerns.
It will be easier for children between the ages of 6-11 to be understood as their communication skills are developed. You can ask how they feel and talk about what you can do. It is important to remember that children this age are individuals. It is their natural right to spare time for themselves. During this period, they may be confined to their rooms or interact with electronic devices a lot. You can support their online conversations with their friends, but you can also pay attention to their interactions with devices such as phones and tablets. In children this age As a result of their concerns; Problems such as attention problems, aggression, and regression to early childhood may be observed.
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