With Texas schools closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, many families are dealing with this disruption on top of COVID-19 fears and economic impacts. These changes can be difficult for everyone to cope with and impact your family’s mental health. Below are five tips to help protect your family’s mental health and cope with the current COVID-19 pandemic:
- Know this event will end.
It is important to remember that, although we don’t have a specific timeline, this pandemic will end. Talk to your kids about any emotions they may be experiencing and ensure they understand the importance of social distancing.
- Create a Schedule that includes physical activity
Distance learning can make it difficult for children to focus. Including physical activity can help your children (and you) relieve stress and its important for everyone’s mental health.
- Limit Screen Time
Watching hours of TV filled with news can be scary for children. Set a limit to how long your family should spend watching or reading about the coronavirus.
- Use technology
Good news, limiting screen time doesn’t mean you have to give up social interaction! Regular check-ups on family and friends via phone or video chat can help your family cope with mental stress.
- Rely on Official Health Recommendations
Doctors and scientists are still learning about COVID-19 every day. Many news outlets report daily on this pandemic which can cause confusion. When making decisions about your family’s health, we recommend gathering information from reliable and trusted sources such as the CDC and your local public health sources.
Check out the CDC’s Household Checklist and visit the National Institute of Mental Health and the Child Mind Institute to find more resources on coping with the Coronavirus Crisis.