It can be confusing to determine how much (or how little) to share with your kiddos during times of uncertainty. As a parent, we want to provide support and reduce anxiety. However, with fast-paced global challenges, such as COVID-19, this can be incredibly difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n
Eagle Valley Behavioral Health, an outreach of Vail Health, has identified some strategies specific to children that can be useful during this period.<\/p>\n\n\n
Limit children’s exposure to media<\/strong> Provide an open space<\/strong> Perhaps beginning a conversation with, “You may have heard some things about an illness that is going around, coronavirus. What type of things have you heard?” Having regular, open conversations about feelings, fears, and thoughts is linked with psychological wellness in children. Remember, it is OK to not have all the answers. It is also never too early to begin these conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n Maintain a schedule<\/strong> Understand typical responses<\/strong> Older children may demonstrate increased moodiness, sleep difficulties, anxiety about missing social support, fear of social rejection, and\/or social withdrawal. If you become concerned about yourself or your children, seek help.<\/p>\n\n\n Several providers in our community are able to provide telehealth support through HIPAA compliant video conferencing options. The EVBH Therapist Finder website is an excellent resource to identify additional behavioral health support for your family. Visit http:\/\/www.eaglevalleybh.org for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n It is important for parents and caregivers to reassure children and loved ones that we have plans to manage the current situation and keep them safe.<\/p>\n\n\n Dr. Casey Wolfington is a licensed psychologist and the community behavioral health director with Eagle Valley Behavioral Health. She has been providing services in the community for more than 12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n Spanish translation<\/strong> Limite la exposici\u00f3n a las redes sociales<\/strong> Proporcionar un espacio abierto<\/strong> Mantener un horario<\/strong> Comprenda las respuestas t\u00edpicas<\/strong> Es importante que los padres y cuidadores les aseguren a sus ni\u00f1os y seres queridos que tenemos planes para manejar la situaci\u00f3n actual y mantenerlos a salvo.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It can be confusing to determine how much (or how little) to share with your kiddos during times of uncertainty. As a parent, we want to provide support and reduce anxiety. However, with fast-paced global challenges, such as COVID-19, this can be incredibly difficult. Eagle Valley Behavioral Health, an outreach of Vail Health, has identified…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":126,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
It is always important to monitor what a child is viewing through media channels. However, during times of global distress, this becomes increasingly important. Media is often overwhelming for adults; however, children may lack the cognitive understanding to fully comprehend the content of the news, leading to increased anxiety, “what-if” thinking, panic, and agitation.<\/p>\n\n\n
Often parents feel that they must have all the answers when talking with their children. However, it is most important to provide an open and trusting space to talk.<\/p>\n\n\n
Closures, isolation, and quarantine may impact your family’s daily routine. However, it is useful to attempt to maintain normal routines and schedules, even if this means doing so within your home. Utilize technology to encourage peer interactions and social support (for adults and children). Creating a sense of routine and structure can increase a child’s sense of internal control and comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n
We need to remember that with the level of stress and uncertainty, the majority of people (children or adults) will have some level of a stress response. In young children, this can include nightmares, regression of previously mastered skills (bedwetting\/accidents), increased separation anxiety, increased acting out (behaviors\/tantrums), or physical symptoms (bellyaches\/headaches).<\/p>\n\n\n
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Puede ser confuso determinar cu\u00e1nto (o cu\u00e1n poco) compartir con sus hijos en tiempos de incertidumbre. Como padres, queremos brindar apoyo y reducir la ansiedad. Sin embargo, con desaf\u00edos globales de r\u00e1pida evoluci\u00f3n, como el COVID-19, esto puede ser incre\u00edblemente dif\u00edcil. Eagle Valley Behavioral Health, un servicio de Vail Health, ha identificado algunas estrategias espec\u00edficas para ni\u00f1os que pueden ser \u00fatiles durante este per\u00edodo.<\/p>\n\n\n
Siempre es importante controlar lo que un ni\u00f1o est\u00e1 viendo a trav\u00e9s de las redes sociales. Sin embargo, en tiempos de angustia global, esto se vuelve a\u00fan m\u00e1s importante. Los medios de comunicaci\u00f3n son abrumadores para los adultos. Sin embargo, los ni\u00f1os pueden carecer de la comprensi\u00f3n cognitiva necesaria para entender completamente el contenido de las noticias, llev\u00e1ndolos a tener m\u00e1s ansiedad, pensamientos negativos, p\u00e1nico y agitaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n\n\n
Los padres sienten que deben tener todas las respuestas cuando hablan con sus hijos. Sin embargo, es m\u00e1s importante proporcionar un espacio abierto y de confianza para hablar. Tal vez comenzar una conversaci\u00f3n con “Es posible que hayas escuchado algunas cosas sobre una enfermedad que se est\u00e1 transmitiendo, Coronavirus. \u00bfQu\u00e9 tipo de cosas has escuchado?” Tener conversaciones regulares y abiertas sobre sentimientos, miedos y pensamientos est\u00e1 relacionado con el bienestar psicol\u00f3gico en los ni\u00f1os. Recuerde, est\u00e1 bien no tener todas las respuestas, y nunca es demasiado temprano para iniciar estas conversaciones.<\/p>\n\n\n
Los cierres, el aislamiento y la cuarentena pueden afectar la rutina diaria de su familia. Sin embargo, es \u00fatil intentar mantener rutinas y horarios normales, incluso si esto significa hacerlo dentro de su hogar. Utilice la tecnolog\u00eda para fomentar las interacciones de adultos y ni\u00f1os con sus compa\u00f1eros o colegas, y el apoyo social. Mantener una rutina y proveer estructura puede aumentar el autocontrol y comodidad del ni\u00f1o.<\/p>\n\n\n
Debemos recordar que la mayor\u00eda de personas (adultos o ni\u00f1os) demostrar\u00e1n alguna reacci\u00f3n a los niveles de estr\u00e9s e incertidumbre. En los ni\u00f1os peque\u00f1os, esto puede incluir pesadillas, regresi\u00f3n de habilidades previamente dominadas (micciones incontroladas\/accidentes), aumento de la ansiedad por separaci\u00f3n, aumento de comportamientos impulsivos (pataletas\/berrinches) o s\u00edntomas f\u00edsicos (dolores de est\u00f3mago\/cabeza). Los ni\u00f1os mayores pueden demostrar peor humor, dificultad para dormir, ansiedad por falta de apoyo, miedo al rechazo o retraimiento social. Si est\u00e1s preocupado por ti o por tus hijos, busca ayuda. Muchos proveedores en nuestra comunidad pueden brindar apoyo mediante opciones de videollamada que cumplen con los requisitos de privacidad y confidencialidad (HIPPA). El sitio web EVBH Buscador de Terapeutas es un recurso excelente para identificar apoyo adicional de salud conductual para su familia. Para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n, visite http:\/\/www.eaglevalleybh.org.<\/p>\n\n\n