The UK has been in lockdown for over two weeks now and it’s clear that this change in how we live our lives is having a significant impact on many things, including our mental health.
Save the Children conducted a survey of children and parents to find out how they were coping in this unprecedented time, and to find out what some of the biggest concerns were. It revealed that 56 per cent of parents in the UK are worried about their child’s mental health during this period.
The charity also asked children aged six to 18 what their biggest concerns are at the moment, with 58 per cent saying that they were worried about a family member becoming sick, while 46 per cent were worried about not being able to see friends and 25 per cent were concerned that food might run out.
According to the findings, some 85 per cent of the children surveyed said that they were upset about being unable to see their friends and family during this period and for the foreseeable future.
For parents, the biggest practical concern was making sure they had food, with 48 per cent citing this as a worry. 44 per cent revealed that they were concerned about helping their children with their school work, while 38 per cent were worried about money.
Almost one-fifth (19 per cent) said they were also worried about explaining the situation to their children.
Save the Children has set up a free online learning hub called the Den to help parents and children during this time by offering advice on everything from fitness and creative activities, to how to keep children calm during this period.
Deb Barry, senior humanitarian and leadership advisor at the charity, commented: “Throughout this challenging time, we’re here to support families by focusing on keeping children safe and healthy, and making sure they can keep learning, no matter what.”
If you and your youngsters are finding it particularly difficult to handle the stress and anxiety that the COVID-19 outbreak has created, you could explore online mindfulness therapy to get some support and find new ways of coping with the situation we find ourselves in.
As House Beautiful pointed out last month, none of us have ever experienced anything like this before, which is why it can be so hard to know how best to deal with what’s happening in the world and how to keep your children calm during this period.
The news provider also offered some tips on simple things you can do to help you and your kids deal with stress at the moment. It explained that the breath can be especially powerful, so taking regular breathing breaks throughout the day is advised.
The simple act of focusing on the breath can be highly relaxing. The publication suggested following a very easy breathing exercise, where you count the length of each inhale and exhale, and gradually try to lengthen both. You can let your mind wander, and afterwards you can ask the children what thoughts they had or how it made them feel.
If you have an online mindfulness session, you can learn other techniques that will work for you and your family to give you some calm in this period of uncertainty.
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