Nobody wants to be quarantined because of COVID, but since schools have reopened and the virus has continued to spread, the reality is that many families find themselves in this situation.
While there’s probably not a way to make this experience awesome (let’s be real, there is almost nothing about 2020 that can be made awesome), there are many things that can be done to make it less stressful and anxiety-provoking for you and your children.
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Explain what is happening
Obviously, this conversation needs to be developmentally appropriate, but there are several things to cover. These include:
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- Why they are being quarantined
- How long it will last
- What will be happening during this time
For a younger kid, this might look like saying “there were some COVID germs in your class this week, so we’re going to stay home for two weeks to make sure we don’t give the germs to anyone else. You will still do school online, and mom/dad will be staying home to take care of you during the day.” Emphasize that you are doing this to care for others and be good neighbors/citizens. As challenging as this is, it contains an opportunity to teach your children about caring for and loving vulnerable others if you explain it that way.
2. Provide reassurance
If your child expresses any fears or concerns, provide reassurance that almost everyone who gets sick with COVID feels like they have a cold or flu and is just fine in a few weeks. Again, social distancing or quarantining is for the sake of other people, not because you are worried about your child.
3. Create a schedule and way to mark the days.
Time is an elusive idea for young children, so it would be super valuable to make how many days you’re staying home clear and visual. This could be as simple as marking days off a calendar or could involve a more elaborate project such as making 14 paper rings, with one you take down each day, or even getting a small craft/toy to open each day and notice how many are left.
Children thrive on routine, so to the extent possible, try to create a consistent schedule for each day. If this can include significant time in the (safe and socially distanced) great outdoors, you’ll reduce cabin fever for everyone.
4. Find some fun
Ice cream sandwiches after lunch? Baking? Board games before bedtime? Family movie nights? Extra stories? Playing dress-up? I don’t know what fun looks like at your house, but this is a chance to build in some family fun and make some memories.
Let your kids help you create a list of activities you’re going to do during this time, and have some fun. In addition to building family fun, it would also be a good idea to figure out ways to stay in touch with friends.
5. Build a sense of perspective
This is a historic time. It is helpful for kids to know that this moment in history is unique and that they will remember it for a long time. My kids love knowing that they will be telling their grandchildren about 2020. Remind your kid that, in addition to remembering their experience, they will also remember the kind of kids they were during this time.
Praise and celebrate their character and the way they are coping with the challenges of needing to quarantine. When a child can link their experience to a bigger narrative, they grow in empathy for others and in their own sense of themselves as capable and able to withstand difficult experiences.
