Parenting Panel: Laurie Solmon’s COVID Coping Strategies
Laurie Solmon, MSW, RSW
Laurie is a Child and Family Therapist, Registered Social Worker, and mother of two.
The past nine years of Laurie’s career have been focused on supporting the social, emotional and behavioural well-being of children, youth, and their families. Sensitivity, compassion and understanding are central to Laurie’s clinical work, where the main goal is to ensure a safe environment for clients to explore their thoughts, feelings and behaviors, to work towards positive change.
Laurie completed her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. Following graduation, she worked for four years at Peel Children’s Centre and three years at Sick Kids Centre for Community Mental Health, formerly the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre. In her role as a Child and Family Therapist, Laurie facilitated individual and family therapy, parenting support, multidisciplinary assessment teams, parent workshops and clinical supervision and training for Master of Social Work practicum students.
Find out more about Laurie at lauriesolmontherapy.com
What is your best piece of advice for parents to help kids cope with fear around COVID-19?
At all times, but particularly during this stressful and unpredictable time in our lives, my best piece of advice would be for you, as parents, to model the expression of all feelings, and the skills that you use to cope with these feelings. Children are much more perceptive than we give them credit for and can pick up on our moods, tension and stress.
It is so important to label how we are feeling; Acknowledge verbally that mom/dad is feeling stressed, tired, anxious, and follow up with how you are going to manage that feeling, i.e. so I am going to take some deep breaths, close the door to my room and scream as loud as I can, go out for a walk, take a hot shower, talk to a friend/family, to help me feel better.
Children learn through observation. If you are going to teach them anything during this time, let it be how to support and promote positive mental health.
For more tips on supporting your child’s emotional health during uncertain times, visit our Psychotherapy Toronto page.
What are you favourite tips for keeping kids busy and active while physically distancing?
Take some time to step back and enjoy a few moments of time with your families. Favourite activities in my home as of recently have been arts and crafts, sports games, regular walks, yoga, board games, chalk and bubbles outside, watching people and animals out the window, indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts, reading, and chatting with family and friends online. Remember that whatever is it they are busy with, it will be enough.
Children are so resilient; my hope is that years from now, they may remember this time as one where they spent a significant amount of quality time with their families. Many of you as parents are currently working from home and are attempting the impossible task of balancing work, home schooling, cooking, entertaining and/or refereeing your children, and more. Know that you are doing the best that you can on any given day, and give yourself a break.
Thank you to Laurie Solmon! We’re feeling better already!
If you're looking for more structured activities or need assistance in creating a balanced daily routine, explore our Family Therapy services.
