Parenting Panel: Sarah Rosensweet’s COVID Coping Strategies
Sarah Rosensweet
Sarah is a certified peaceful parenting coach and educator, and the parenting advice columnist for Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper. She is the mother of three big kids.
Sarah Rosensweet is a certified peaceful parenting coach and educator, and the parenting advice columnist for Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper. She lives in Toronto with her husband and three big kids (ages 12, 15, and 19).
Peaceful parenting is a non-punitive, connection-based approach that uses firm limits with lots of empathy. Sarah works one-on-one virtually with parents all over the world to help them go from frustrated and overwhelmed to, “We’ve got this!”
Read more at: www.sarahrosensweet.com
What is your best piece of advice for parents to help kids cope with fear around COVID-19?
Kids need to know that no matter what happens, we will take care of them. If our kids are anxious, we can say, "We are doing everything we can to stay safe. We don't know what will happen in the future, but no matter what happens, we will figure it out. We are in this together and we can do hard things."
It’s also important to note that we need to manage our own anxiety. Our kids have to feel that ‘we’ve got this.’ If you’re feeling anxious, talk to a friend and do what you can to remind yourself of what I just suggested you tell your child. This is hard, scary, and unprecedented. At the same time, we WILL figure this out and come through the other side.
If your child (or you!) still feels anxious: get laughing! Laughter reduces anxiety by clearing our bodies of stored up stress and tensions. Try 10 minutes of laughter, twice a day. Try to avoid tickling. This can make kids feel powerless even if they’re laughing.
Finally, remind yourself and your child that this won’t last forever. Try to stay flexible even as we don't know what tomorrow will bring.
What are you favourite tips for keeping kids busy and active while physically distancing?
I like the 'bucket' strategy. Every day, we need to make sure we are dipping into every bucket. If you are a schedule person, make a schedule! If you aren't, that's okay. Just use the buckets as a guide. For my daughter, the buckets are: reading, exercise, music and math.
You can decide what they are with your kids. You might include social time, such as FaceTiming with friends, or creative time, such as artwork or colouring. We haven't put those as our buckets, because those are the things my daughter gravitates toward on her own.
In terms of figuring out what to do, there are so many ideas on the internet! For smaller children, I would definitely include sensorial activities. Water play, play dough, or a tub of dry rice with scoops will keep a child busy for a long time! And of course, don't feel bad about using screen time if you need a break or need to get some work done.
Thank you Sarah Rosensweet for insightful advice!
For parents looking for more ways to support their child's emotional well-being during these uncertain times, our Psychotherapy services can provide additional support and strategies. You can also explore our Family Therapy services, which can assist families in strengthening their relationships and improving communication.
