“Positive, nurturing relationships are so important for children as they develop, and parents and caregivers also need support - especially during times of uncertainty and stress like we’re in now…”
- Suzanne Haney, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP Council on Child Abuse and Neglect.
The American Academy of Pediatrics Advises Parents Experiencing Stress Over Covid-19, a quote from the American Academy of Pediatrics website (March 23, 2020).
How do we help children cope with challenges? This is especially troublesome for parents and caregivers during moments of uncertainty. We are all dealing with unique challenges imposed on our day-to-day lives by Covid-19. Recent stay at home orders and social distancing measures intended to protect the public may have the unintended consequence of causing fear, isolation and anxiety for so many.
Additional pressures brought on by worries associated with employment, school closures and the loss of activities that normally provide consistency and stability for families can be overwhelming. If you are looking for ways to talk to your children about Covid-19, or if you or your child are experiencing anxiety, we wanted to highlight some helpful resources available to you online such as the National Association of School Psychologists guide, “Talking to Children about Covid-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource.”
We are waking up to the realities of living through a period of great uncertainty, as we all confront a global health emergency that could have significant repercussions for families, friends and communities. On a normal day it’s difficult for parents and caregivers to strike a balance between financial uncertainty and the safety and emotional well-being of our loved ones. But these are unprecedented times and our days are far from normal.
It’s always been a challenge to help children cope when they are faced with difficult circumstances in their lives. As family lawyers, we understand high conflict between parents during divorce can be one of the most difficult experiences for a child. When children experience difficult issues surrounding divorce (or childhood trauma) they sometimes find it difficult to express their feelings. Research shows children’s literature can be a helpful tool for kids by providing relatable experiences to work through complex emotions.
A few weeks ago, we began talking to a local bookseller in Los Angeles so we could provide you with a list of books that might be helpful when coping with difficult issues surrounding divorce, co-parenting, grief and loss, and more. You can find these books via the “Just for Kids!” section of our website. We wanted to highlight books you can read with your child to help navigate some of the challenges facing families in our practice. Ordinarily, you would be able to order these books from Children’s Book World. However, due to the current public health emergency, Children’s Book World is temporarily closed. We hope you will check back and that you find these books helpful.
Spending quality time reading with your child is just one way to help a child deal with difficult issues. During this challenging period when so many kids are home from school, you can find online learning resources from Scholastic, PBS Kids, Khan Academy, Khan Academy Daily Learning Schedules, Cool Math, Time for Kids, Starfall, Exploratorium and other science websites.
In addition, if you or your child are experiencing stress and anxiety related to the current public health threat, there are other resources to help. Other resources can be found via the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
If you are having trouble with employment or business financing, you may find some useful information, including links to small business financing, via the coronavirus updates page located on our website.
Update: We wanted to update this article and let you know that Children's Book World is currently open for online orders. If you are interested in supporting a wonderful local independent bookseller during the coronavirus pandemic, please know that you can visit Children's Book World's online store to purchase a book or audiobook for you and/or your child. Thank you!