10 EXPERT TIPS

For keeping your kids sane during a pandemic

The last year has been tough on everybody, but for children (and teens) it has been an especially confusing, frustrating, depressing, and overwhelming time. From distance learning, to dealing with family tragedy, to the isolation of quarantine, this generation of young people is dealing with a crisis that nobody has experienced in over a century. So it may go without saying that helping children and adolescents handle the emotional stresses of the pandemic is a major priority for all communities.

To help point you in the right direction, we’ve compiled a list of 10 tips to help your kiddos handle the emotional and mental strain of the ongoing quarantine.

01

First, here is a list of behaviors and changes to watch out for in your child or teen, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Excessive crying or irritation in younger children.

Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting). Excessive worry or sadness. Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits. Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens.

Poor school performance or avoiding school.

Difficulties with attention and concentration.

Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past.

Unexplained headaches or body pain.

Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.