Ah, post-covid life. Will it be everything we’ve ever dreamed of? Only time will be able to answer that question. One thing’s for sure – parents and children everywhere are holding their breath hoping the end is near.
Even though children have mostly been safe from COVID-related serious illness, they have still felt the social and emotional effects of the pandemic like the rest of us. But in addition to missing out on trips and parties, children have had to deal with a pause in their social development. The early years of a child’s life are some of the most crucial years for picking up important interpersonal skills, such as sharing, playing, and communicating with others.
So what happens when the world suddenly shuts down, and children are forced to be 6 feet away from others, wear masks, and limit their social interactions? Since the pandemic is still ongoing, there’s no telling what the long-term developmental impact of the pandemic will be on young children.
But rather than stressing out about the things you don’t have control over, it may be helpful to look toward the future and focus on what you can do to help your children transition back to pre-covid life.
With an end to the pandemic in sight, now is the time to start taking steps to help your children ease back into a sense of normalcy. Life won’t ramp up immediately, so this is the perfect opportunity to help your children navigate through any anxiety they feel about the world reopening again.
Make Plans
The pandemic has been an isolating and lonely time for many of us. Without summer vacations or holidays with grandparents, our children may be dealing with boredom and anxiety. They may be in a “funk” because they don’t have anything to look forward to.
Now that vaccines are rolling out in mass numbers, it could be safe for you to start making plans for your family again. Whether that means hosting a small playdate or taking a family vacation out-of-state, making plans could help boost your child’s mood and get them excited for the future again. Showing signs that the end is near can give your kids a sense of hope and joy in the present day.
Ease Into Post-Covid Life
We’ve been social distancing for over a year, so it will feel unfamiliar and even uncomfortable to freely go places and be in crowded areas. Many children may even feel anxiety in large crowds. This is why it’s best to ease into post-covid life by taking small steps.
We all know that lofty goals often end up in disappointment. That’s why, rather than diving right in and packing your children’s schedules to the brim, it’s a better idea to dip your toe into the pool. Start with one-on-one playdates and slowly work your way up to a small gathering. Once your child feels comfortable in that setting, you can consider bringing your child to a park or an outdoor event with more people. Make sure you don’t give your children too much too fast or else you may risk overwhelming them.
Check-In With Them
While you may have mastered the art of checking in with yourself and your feelings, your child may not have that instinct yet. So it’s up to you to check in with your children from time to time, especially as they move through this transition period.
Remember that children respond better to direct questions rather than open-ended ones. Questions such as the ones below can help you better gauge your child’s emotional state and feelings in a particular moment.
- Do you feel comfortable being here?
- Is the amount of people here ok with you?
- Are you concerned about who will be at this gathering?
- Are you nervous about interacting with others again?
By checking in with your child, you are instilling in them the instinct to check in with themselves. This is a good habit to build, and it will help ensure that your child voices their concerns when they have them.
Start Integrating Parts of Your Old Routine Again
Remember when the pandemic first started? The first few weeks may have felt like utter chaos as you adjusted to remote work, remote school, and even remote soccer or piano lessons.
But eventually, you found a rhythm that worked for you. The same idea applies to getting out of the pandemic. You want to slowly transition to your prior routine. This may mean waking your children up earlier to get a head start on their day or making them change out of their pajamas even if they aren’t going anywhere.
Engaging in these rituals will help signal to your children that a change is coming and get them in the mindset that things will soon be returning to normal.
Let Them Know It’s Ok to Say No
Make sure your kids know that it’s ok to have boundaries and say no sometimes. Creating a safe environment for your kids to voice their opinions starts with listening to and validating their feelings.
If you agreed to a playdate for your kid or signed them up for an in-person activity, and they don’t feel comfortable going, it’s important that your kids know they can voice their feelings and be heard.
Take Time to Recharge
If there’s anything that this pandemic has shown us, it’s that some people enjoy a slower pace of life and value more time at home. Maybe your child is an introvert or a highly-sensitive person. This pandemic may have given them the opportunity to live a life that isn’t as socially demanding.
If you’ve noticed that your child has really thrived indoors, this might be a sign to you that they need more time to recharge post-covid. This insight could be super helpful in preventing temper tantrums and meltdowns. Maybe your child was overstimulated pre-covid, and this time has given them the space to be more authentically themselves.
Use this knowledge to your advantage and plan smaller, more intimate gatherings, enroll them in solo activities, or schedule more time in between activities to wind down.
Reassure Them That Their Anxiety is Normal
Your children may either be extremely excited to get back into the swing of things or they could be dealing with bouts of anxiety. Both feelings are normal and valid.
Make sure that you support your child through all of their experiences in this pandemic. If you can see your child is having a difficult time shaking their worries off, let them know that it’s ok to be scared. The fear they’re feeling is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, their anxiety could just mean that they’re processing their feelings about the pandemic.
Let your children know that they’re not on any kind of timeline. They will get back to post-covid life whenever they feel ready.
The Bottom Line
Children are resilient. When they fall, they bounce right back up. You can’t underestimate your kid’s ability to adapt to a new situation. In fact, children are oftentimes more open-minded than us adults. They approach new situations with a kind of lightness and curiosity we can all look to imitate.
In other words, there’s no reason to think that your children won’t recover emotionally and socially from the pandemic. As long as you give your child the time, space, and support they need to process what they’ve experienced, they will be to recover from this experience.
Is Your Child Worried About Post-Covid Life?
It might be helpful for them to talk to a licensed professional. If your child has experienced emotional stress during the pandemic, they might need help processing their emotions. No one should have to struggle alone. Help is available.
At Central Texas Child and Family Counseling, we want to help put your child’s mind at ease. With convenient locations in Georgetown and Liberty Hill, we are here to help. Call or email us today.
Always On Your Side,
-Jenna
