The new type of Coronavirus (Covid-19), which has affected many countries in the world, was also transmitted to our country about 2 weeks ago. The number of cases is increasing day by day. Due to Corona, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic. (Pandemic is a general name given to epidemic diseases that spread and affect a wide area in more than one country or continent in the world.)
In this process, our part is to take precautions, ensure social isolation as much as we can and wait calmly. . In addition to maintaining social distance, paying attention to hygiene rules, especially washing hands frequently with soap, maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 meters, not being in public and crowded places, paying attention to the use of gloves and masks, eating healthy, and strengthening your immune system are among the precautions we can take. p>
We need to protect our psychological health in these difficult days when we spend almost all of our time at home. Especially if you are a parent, you also need to think about your children.
Giving information to children
Suddenly being locked in our homes and the change in the current order may be a situation that children have difficulty in understanding
. First of all, ask them, listen to them sincerely and compassionately, and check what they know and how much they know.
Then you can explain this situation to them using the metaphor of "storm". "Before the storm, news comes here saying don't leave the house, there will be a storm." We stay at home for a while, the storm ends, the sun comes out and even a rainbow comes out. We go out. Think of it like him... They told us that there might be a storm, diseases might spread, stay at home... We stay at home. But doctors take care of patients in the hospital; Scientists also go out to find vaccines in laboratories. They are trying for us. Our part is to stay at home…
This is a good thing, so we protect ourselves. It can be explained as "We will continue like this for a while..."
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Give short, clear, non-confusing information.
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Do not give detailed information unless they ask.
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Do not ignore or turn a deaf ear when they ask, answer their questions sincerely.
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When giving information to the child, Take your child's age into consideration. The amount and form of information you give will vary depending on the age of the child.
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Tell stories using metaphors with young children.
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Use pictures or other expressive methods.
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Be careful about the news, sites and conversations you follow in the presence of your children.
Remember that children see life through their parents' eyes, and they perceive trauma that way. They react the way we react, or they learn to cope the way we try to cope.
Maintaining routine at home
One of the things that is most damaged these days is our sense of confidence; We have a hard time feeling safe.
The first thing we should do is to protect our routine as much as we can, to have a framework, to maintain a certain order. We know that many parents are having difficulty re-establishing order at home as the education system transitions to an online system.
Even if there are delays in the wake-up and going to bed times, you can still make a program that can be fixed, set meal times as morning, noon and evening, and diversify the breaks such as lesson time, activity time, sports time, free time. You can make this program in written form and hang it in a visible place in the house. Having a certain framework will be good for both adults and children and will make them feel safe.
Emotion Regulation
The second thing you will do is emotion regulation. In other words, reflecting the child's emotion, accompanying him, calming him down.
However, in this process, you must first be aware of your own emotions and see your needs. How do you calm down, what feels good, a favorite food, a book, music, a warm shower; Do whatever is good for you, calm down and stay in the moment.
So you can apply the same thing to your child. You can reflect his emotion and listen empathetically. You can ask what he needs. You can make suggestions to increase their resources. Painting, doing activities, reading books, breathing exercises, cookies to do; Again, doing whatever feels good will help you calm down and stay in the moment.
Turn your mind in different directions
Anxiety in moderation. is healthy; helps us. This pushes people to obtain sufficient and accurate information about the virus and take precautions. Knowing feels safe; Taking precautions also creates a sense of control. But it is important that these are in moderation and realistic.
After regulating your emotions and calming down, focus your attention elsewhere.
Anxiety loves empty minds. So make sure you have something to do, this will prevent you from getting lost. Likewise, help your child find something to do.
In summary, maintaining a routine and continuing in that order as much as possible will generally protect our psychological resilience.
Similarly, to positive things in the past; cherishing memories, traits, activities, hobbies; It will enable us to protect ourselves.
Returning to ourselves, doing internal work, being aware of our emotions, and engaging in things that are good for ourselves will make us stronger; It will keep us calm.
In fact, all of these are both a coping aid for now and an investment in the future. The truth will heal us; to act appropriately to the situation, to feel our emotions, to experience the moment without missing it, to make sense of what is happening, to reach clean information, to keep what we can control, to realize our helplessness in the rest, to accept it and to know that it will pass... In this way, we will have the chance to look to the future with hope.
Hoping that the pandemic will end as soon as possible, that we can return to our old order, and that we will appreciate our order when we return...
With Love and Health,
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