One of the hardest aspects of the Corona virus is how it is affecting kids. I don’t mean that the illness targets them, because so far that’s pretty rare, but news of this scary virus is filling a lot of children with anxiety and that breaks my heart. And, as more and more places and events are cancelled, their lives are changed in pretty dramatic ways. That’s a lot to try and explain to a child, especially an anxious one. Let’s face it, this is a lot for us to take in as adults. It’s so much harder for our little ones.
But, one thing is true about fear, if we gain some control over the situation (whatever it may be) we can lessen the fear. I’ve gathered a fun list of ways moms have helped their kids take back some power during this scary time.
A Safe Bunker. Let your kids build a fort where they feel safe. My grandkids named theirs the “Corona Bunker”. They filled it with books and stuffed animals and had so much fun in there that they even sleep in it sometimes.
Corona Spray. When my granddaughter had to have four teeth pulled, a lovely lady made her a bottle of “unicorn spray” to get rid of fear. She used essential oils and put it in a roller bottle (but, you could make a lavender scented water to put in a spray bottle). It was hugely successful. My granddaughter clutched it in her hand the whole time she was at the dentist and she swore it helped. Her brother borrows it for nightmares.
Act it Out. Most kids love making up plays, acting them out and having their parents film them. Have one child be the “bad guy Corona virus” and the others attack with nerf guns. Costumes are encouraged and send the video to friends and relatives (hopefully, you’ll get some funny ones in return).
Healthy Foods. This is the perfect time to teach your kids about healthy eating. Teach them what a healthy meal looks like, let them plan one and help make it. Tell them how eating right can allow your body to fight off germs.
Encourage Handwashing. Have your kids make signs to hang on the bathroom mirror to remind everyone to wash their hands. Draw around their hands and let them color them in. Buy fun soaps and hand creams that smell good to make handwashing more fun.
Art Therapy. Tell your kids to draw a Corona monster and make it as silly as possible. Then, draw a super hero to battle the monster. What would their name be? What would their weapon look like?
Face Mask. Let your kids design their own face mask. Make it a funny one. Explain why some people feel safer if they wear a face mask and they shouldn’t feel afraid if they see one.
Smoothie Bar. Smoothies are a great way to get protein powder and vitamins into your child. Gather ingredients (berries, yogurt, protein powder, etc.) and a blender. Let each child create their own flavor. Give each one a name and taste each other’s.
Build Toilet Paper towers. Let your kids stack up your dry goods. Explain how prepared you are for this quarantine without going overboard.
Anything that gives kids back a little power (in a fun way) can help to lessen their stress levels. Can you add to our list? What have you been doing to make social distancing fun instead of scary?
Read more of Ann’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
