We are faced with an epidemic called covid-19, which has started all over the world and our country has been greatly affected. Since it is a new condition, we have many deficiencies in information and treatment. In order to close this gap and contribute to healthcare professionals and our nation, we quarantined ourselves in our homes for a long time. The quarantine process was a situation that separated us from our daily lives, schools and jobs for a while. Apart from Covid-19 measures, another issue that challenges us is being exposed to a barrage of questions from our children. Mom, what is coronavirus? Mom, why can't we go to school? Why can't I go play with my friends? What happens if corona enters my body? Will I get sick if I don't wash my hands properly? Etc. If you, as a parent who has faced these questions, are wondering how to answer them better, you will find the answers you are looking for here.
The quarantine process has greatly affected children, just as it has affected us adults in many physical and spiritual aspects. Our desire is to get through this process by minimizing the effects. We must pay attention to some points in order to manage the quarantine process for our children in the most accurate way, to protect them from the psychological effects of quarantine and to minimize these effects. The first of these points is uncertainty or misinformation. Uncertainty and misinformation acquired from the environment can increase the child's anxiety level. For this reason, we must start by eliminating them.
We must make our children open to asking us questions and provide them with a suitable environment. They should be able to ask us anything that is on their mind with peace of mind, and the information they receive should be satisfactory. The answers we give to our children should be clear and easy to understand in order not to create more question marks in their minds. However, to be descriptive, you should refrain from trying to present unnecessary details or facts during the conversation that the child has not asked you as a question. However, we must be very careful about acting honestly. We must answer as accurately as we can. We should avoid exaggerated and pessimistic expressions when talking to them.
Our attitude during the conversation is also extremely important. li. It should vary depending on the age factor. Especially when talking to children; As parents, great importance should be given to establishing a dialogue down to eye level, shaping the language according to age, helping them make sense of situations they cannot understand emotionally, listening carefully and making them feel that they understand, and avoiding using words that will cause children stress. Children often tend to ask the same questions over and over again. Acting tolerantly in such situations and maintaining our calm and patience during the explanation protects our communication from being damaged. For adolescents, it is necessary to make them feel that we respect their ideas and feelings and to talk to them like an adult.
It is very important to pay attention to our cleanliness and health in order to protect ourselves from the virus. Let's not forget that the more we support our immune system, the more we reduce the possibility of contracting the virus. Children learn many behaviors through observation. For this reason, parents should be models for them. If we pay attention to our cleanliness and health, they will imitate us and perform these behaviors. By inviting them to many activities, we can show them ways to protect themselves, create space for observation, and even turn work into fun.
For example, experts recommend that we wash our hands for 20 seconds to protect ourselves from the virus. . So, how can we show our child why this is and how it should be done? We put on our gloves and pour some gouache paint into our palms. Then we rub our hands until this dye dyes every part of the glove. The black paint we use represents soap. By spreading soap everywhere, we teach children why and how to wash hands. Doing this process every time may bore children or the timing may not be set correctly. It takes us 20 seconds to sing songs like a tiny bird, our mother's yesterday, walnut man, red fish. While songs make work fun, they also help us with time management.
Another practice implemented to keep the virus called Covid-19 away from ourselves is social isolation. ur. We are away from our loved ones, friends, travelling, school and business life. This is also a situation that can increase the level of depression and anxiety. We can reduce the impact of this home life process on children or adolescents as much as we can. The first step for this is to create an order. For adolescents, we can get their thoughts on their new normal lives. This will instill a sense of competence while conveying the message that we care about their opinions. Continuity of healthy living habits such as proper nutrition and exercise should be ensured for both adolescents and children. If we consider the issue in terms of social relations, we may have to maintain our social distance or we may be at home because we are within the restrictions, but we should not separate our children from their friends and loved ones. It's time to experience the comfort of being in the age of technology. Even though children cannot hug each other and play games, it is possible for them to feel like they are side by side and try to socialize, thanks to smartphones. Of course, the family's control and adjustments regarding the use of technological devices will be of great importance here. Instead of leaving our children completely in the lap of technology, we can reduce or even eliminate the child's desire to always sit in front of the screen by increasing physical and social activities within the family after the necessary socialization and relaxation are achieved. Again, ensuring that children and adolescents participate in household chores can give them a sense of competence, but of course, we should not ignore the age factor when assigning these tasks.
Finally, the thing I would like to warn families about is that they should be careful about possible mental disorders. It is quite normal to experience some psychological changes due to the quarantine process. For example, bedwetting in preschool children, regression in skills and behavior; Not being able to do the activities that school children are expected to do, exhibiting child behaviors at a younger age than their age and cognitive development level; In adolescents, such as restlessness, sleeping and eating problems, aggression and introversion. What really matters is whether the behavioral change becomes permanent or not. If these changes that negatively affect your child last for more than two weeks, It is recommended that they get help, even on line.
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