www.womanthismonth.com August 2021 13 LIFESTYLE | opinion So, what can parents do to care for both: themselves and their children as we gradually transition back to interacting in public? Having concerns about leaving isolation and integrating back to pre-corona life is entirely reasonable; parents should learn to listen to their children’s worries, validate them, and express understanding and acceptance. However, parents should pay attention to how intense these worries seem to be. Is your child getting caught up in excessive hand-washing and cleaning? Adamant about avoiding even public spaces that you deem safe? Parents can discuss the differences between appropriate and excessive safety precautions objectively without pointing fingers or blaming the child. Remind your child that while it’s important to be safe, it is also essential to adapt your safety strategies to new information and situations. Drawing distinctions between what you and your children can and cannot control when it comes to getting sick, limiting excessive reassurance about safety, and having a plan to manage challenging situations as they occur can help your child feel ready to meet the world. It is important to understand that different people will adjust to engaging with others at different speeds; expressing empathy simply and clearly will help the child feel safe sharing his feelings with his parents, making it easier to address them. Some kids will need to be trained into taking smaller, more manageable steps towards regular interaction, such as a small playdate at the park with their favorite friend or a trip to get ice cream. Parents can also set small achievable goals and share them with the kids so they can be an active part of the challenge; this could motivate them and help them transition easily and smoothly.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==