Parenting in the Time of Covid-19
Dr. Jemma Helfman, a clinical psychologist working with children, adolescents and their families discusses:
• The challenges that families are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• How to normalize the adjustments that parents are having to make
• Children’s responses to the changes and how to support them
• How to help parents to understand behaviours that they may be finding challenging
• Give parents a simple guideline to follow in responding to the behaviours they find challenging
• Help parents to be aware of their own emotional state and discuss 3 strategies to work on maintaining their own calm
Dr Jemma's Resources
Tips for Parenting during Covid-19
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Everybody’s situation is different. There is no one right way to do this.
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The majority of children are likely to be unaffected by the changes.
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Try to think of behavior as communication of some kind of need. How else can you help them get that need met?
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Connection and maintaining positive relationships are the most important thing at this time and key to increasing the likelihood of children’s cooperation.
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Praise behaviors you want to see more of (when you see them even if it is not often)
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Ignore annoying behaviors
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Intervene if behavior is hurtful. Calm and re-engage your and your child’s thinking brain. Keep consequences short, and natural if possible.
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Learn and recognize your own warning signs and triggers. Notice stress rising in your body. Use relaxation and mindfulness. Challenge your thinking.
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Enlist the help of others virtually if possible.
Favourite Apps
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Headspace: Guided meditation and mindfulness.
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MindShift: Free evidence-based mental health relief
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Catch It: Learn how to manage feelings like anxiety and depression
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CBT-I Coach: Education about CBT and how sleep works
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Caribu: Shared activities app for friends and family to entertain kids via video-calling
Favourite Podcasts
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Psychologists Off The Clock: free, on demand podcasts, from four clinical psychologists who love to chat about the best ideas from psychology.
Favourite Websites
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Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning: A project designed to improve the social and emotional outcomes of young children.
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Anxiety Canada: Expert tools and resources to help Canadians manage anxiety
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American Academy of Pediatrics: Statement on screen time during COVID-19
Dr. Jemma Helfman, PsyD., C.Psych.