Supporting Children during COVID-19

Supporting Your Child During COVID-19

Background

A type of coronavirus, abbreviated COVID-19, is causing a continued outbreak of respiratory (lung) disease and heart concerns. It was reportedly first detected in China back in 2019 and has been detected in most of the world's countries globally. It remains important to responsibly plan for contagion as the risk levels increase, and as the health risks in the United States continue to be reported locally, state-by-state, nationally, and internationally.

Affects

Concern over this virus can make children and families anxious. We do know that the disease continues to spread here in the United States and that the severity of illness can vary from individual to individual. There are steps we can take to prevent the spread of infection locally. Parents can acknowledge their appropriate level of concern without panicking while discussing this disease with their children. This is an appropriate action and can actually lead to practicing behaviors and routines that may help in reducing the risk of this illness.

Helping children cope with anxiety requires providing accurate prevention information and facts without causing undue alarm or stress. It is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If parents seem overly worried, then children’s anxiety may rise. Parents should reassure children that they are safer under their guidance and supervision. Parents can also communicate that health and school officials are working hard to ensure that people throughout the country stay healthy. Children also need factual and age-appropriate information about the potential seriousness of disease risks and concrete instruction about how to avoid infections and spread of disease. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety.

[content provided by the Lee County School District via their site]

Informational Resources

Interactive Online Resources for Student and Family

Parent Resource

Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health During an Infectious Disease Outbreak. Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation.

SalusCare Parent Group

You are not alone!

Parents, Let’s Come Together and Support Each Other.

Life itself is full of different challenges, not to mention, adding on a Pandemic as COVID19. SalusCare is always alongside of you and your family, especially through the difficult times. You are not alone! We want to help support you and your family. SalusCare is hosting group sessions via ZOOM to bring us together through interactive discussions, with revision/ new coping skills for you and the people you care about the most, your family. Sessions are open to patients and the general public and are free!

Some topics may include but not limited:

  • Challenges of managing your child’s schoolwork at home
  • Establishing a healthy routine
  • Ways to reassure when you’re scared
  • Places to find support
  • Working as a team despite the tension
  • Fun activities with few resources
  • Adding to your support system
  • Acknowledge Strengths
  • Ways to draw from your past resilience and build new ones
  • Self-care
  • Recognizing the difference between external locus of control and internal locus of control
  • Emotional safety
  • Mindfulness/ positive affirmation/ gratitude

SalusCare Community Group

SalusCare is holding a variety of open groups through Zoom for our community to help manage the stress and concern surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic. You do not have to be a patient of SalusCare and there is no fee to attend. Topics may include managing stress and anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic, self-care, mindfulness and meditation, dealing with boredom, healthy coping to stay sober and safe, and others. You are not alone. We are here to help.

FGCU Counseling Program

The FGCU Counseling Program would like to offer you and your family support. In an effort to alleviate the stress of staying at home, studying from home, and working from home. We are offering free individual and confidential support meetings using virtual video platforms. The free support meetings are for you only (these are not support groups or therapy groups) and it is meant to help you stay grounded, centered, and connected.

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved. Non-Discrimination Policy Website Accessibility