A Child After A Pandemic: What Is The Right Way To Go Out? Family Psychologist Advice

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

The wave of COVID-19 infections has finally begun to subside. In many regions of Russia, the self-isolation regime has already been canceled, somewhere it has been noticeably weakened. Adults and children, with a smile on their faces, took to the streets again. It would seem that now everything will be fine. However, there are risks everywhere. For two or three months of forced self-isolation, children have lost the habit of observing the elementary rules of caution in the yard and on the road. That increases the risk of being hit by a car, injuring other children with your bike or scooter, being the victim of a pedophile or other criminal. And children again need to patiently explain the rules of life in society, and not in a separate apartment. However, in the current situation there are several additional psychological nuances, which, in my opinion of a psychologist, should be paid to the attention of adults so that they protect the psyche of their children. Especially children under the age of ten.

Three life hacks from Zberovsky for parents after the pandemic

1. It is advisable for children to start personal communication with those peers that are already well known to them

The fact is that it is much more difficult for children to keep a social distance than for adults, but it will not be other children who will scold them for this, but their parents who are too intimidated by the coronavirus of these children. That is, when a child under the age of ten, once on the playground, completely sincerely begins to contact other children, the parents of these children may begin to scream hysterically at both the stranger's child and his parents. Something like: "Get away from my child immediately, maybe you are infected !!!", "Masha-Sasha, let's get out of here; there are sick children and sick parents! " And these screams can tangibly traumatize the child's psyche, further preventing him from building positive relationships with peers. After all, having run into an overly loud parent who is not ashamed of rude expressions, children will be afraid not only of unfamiliar adults, but also of other children.

In order not to find yourself in such an unpleasant situation, and to avoid an open conflict with the parents of children you do not know, I highly recommend entering into a dialogue with the parents of those children who go to kindergarten or school with your child. Fortunately, many now have common parental chats on social networks and instant messengers. Parents of those children who were friends in an educational institution, or some section, or live nearby, may well call and organize the communication of their children, minimizing conflict situations and making it easier for their children to resume communication on the street.

2. It is important to explain to children that people who wear masks are not necessarily infected

The fact is that children are very sincere! Of course, this is very sweet and touching, but sometimes it creates problems. The fact is that the parents of children, being at home, "for internal use", can very sharply and impartially characterize those people who are very jealous of their health. Meanwhile, even after the end of the pandemic, some citizens will continue to walk on the street wearing masks, as they say "just in case." (Including, after cosmetic, plastic, or dental operations). And when they go out, children can naively echo their parents, offensively commenting aloud on the actions or appearance of people they do not know. Which, logically, can lead to conflicts on the topic of coronavirus.

Hence, simple tips. Refrain from overly frank assessments of other people in front of children. Explain to children that people can wear masks in situations that are completely unrelated to the coronavirus. And also teach them not to discuss people in public.

3. Make sure that the sociability of children does not turn into their obsession

The normal desire of children to communicate with other children and their proactive appeal to them can sometimes be perceived as excessive obsession. That in itself is not always pleasant, but during the period of struggle for social distance, it can be perceived by other people especially sharply and irritated. To avoid dangerous stress, it is important to remind children of the rules of conduct before each walk, and also to allow children to take more toys with them outside. After all, when a child has toys, he initiates less contact with unfamiliar children. Frequent purchase of new toys will also contribute to this. If your child begins to openly persecute other children without much joy on their part, you need to promptly intervene by the parent himself, without waiting for the clarification of relations with other parents.

Of course, as a psychologist and father of three charming daughters, I really hope that these additional rules will soon become a thing of the past and that the period of the pandemic will be forgotten by us as a bad dream. But for now, it is important for us to take all measures so that our children resume their contact with the outside world without psychological trauma and unnecessary conflicts. Indeed, this is the essence of responsible parenting: to be able not only to quickly respond to any problems associated with our children, but also to prevent their very occurrence.