Parenting Panel: Caron Irwin’s COVID-19 Coping Strategies
Caron Irwin, M.A.
Caron is a certified Child Life Specialist the founder of Roo Parenting, and a mother of three young children.
Roo Parenting is a consulting service that provides support to parents as they navigate the ups and downs of raising their children. Roo Parenting was founded in 2016 by Caron Irwin a Toronto-based mother of 3. Caron has her Masters in Child Development and is a Certified Child Life Specialist with over a decade of experience supporting patients and families at the Hospital for Sick Children.
Caron supports parents with children between the ages of 0-10 in all areas to do with childhood - every day challenges, behaviour, sleep, eating, anxiety, friendship and unforeseen circumstances. She supports families through individual consults, community workshops and by creating content for Instagram and YouTube.
What is your best piece of advice for parents to help kids cope with fear around COVID-19?
Have a conversation with your kids about what is going on. When children have reliable information and have an understanding of what is going on around them they feel much more in control. This helps children cope and manage better. It is important to provide our kids with age appropriate information that is factual - this helps them fill in the blanks, answers their questions and manage their fears. How do you talk to your kids about the Coronavirus?
· Children as young as 3 can benefit from the conversation.
· Be honest and provide simple and factual information.
· Be concise – you do not need to go into too much detail – kids will get lost if they hear too much jargon.
· Use the actual words, vocabulary and language that your child may hear.
· Practice before you have the discussion. This will help you speak with confidence.
(For more resources on managing childhood anxiety, explore our Parenting Consultation services.)
What are you favourite tips for keeping kids busy and active while physically distancing?
1. The morning huddle - each morning at breakfast the 5 of us share our goals for the day - what we need and want to accomplish. This helps us establish our daily routine. The morning huddle also includes a daily smile - I share a funny fact, story, joke or quote to help set the tone for the day.
2. The free time box - I have set up a box in a central place in our home which is full of activities that my children can do independently when it is free time (aka a time when I need to get something done!!). In the box there are colouring and activity books, bracelet making supplies, puzzles, sticker activities etc. - simple, self contained activities.
3. The Special Event - every day in the afternoon we have a Special Event - this could be a special craft, family hike, a game of FaceTime Name That Tune with Friends or a social distancing scavenger hunt. I find that by having this "headliner" event each day if gives my kids something to look forward to and also helps them be more forgiving when we need them to entertain themselves independently while we get some work done!
4. We get outside two times every day - no matter the weather! This helps us all burn off energy, prevents us from going stir crazy and the fresh air feels great!!
(For additional strategies on creating effective family routines, consider our Family Therapy services.)
Thank you to Caron Irwin! We’re looking forward to implementing these!
