Keeping your children calm at home, ecpesically during a pandemic, is key for their mental health. Research shows it is important for children to feel safe, keep healthy routines, and manage their emotions during this uncertain time. Here are some tips from healthychildren.org to help parent your anxious kids:

Address Their Fears:

• Reassure your child that they are safe and you are there for them
• Let them know that they arent alone
• Answer questions simply and honestly
• Acknowledge their feelings, and validate them
• Keep in touch with loved ones and friends
• Model good coping mechanisms for them to duplicate
• Look for the positives in each day

Keep Healthy Routines:

• Establish new routines and be sure to stick to them as best as you can
• Plan some “special time in” to give your child your undivided attention for 10-20 minutes

Use Positive Discipline:

• Redirect bad behavior by finding them something else to do
• Encourage your child to engage in creative play
• Notice good behavior and praise it
• Use rewards and privileges to help reinforce good behavior

Take Care of You

• Besides eating right and staying active, be sure to give yourself a mental break too
• If you are feeling overwhelmed, reach out to others
  • Ask yourself these questions to help deflate the panic and impulse to lash out:
    • Does the problem represent an immediate danger?
    • How will I feel about this problem tomorrow?
    • Is this situation permanent?

Ohio CareLine
(video, social media images)

ABCs of Mental Health
(social media images)

Crisis Text Line
(videos, social media images)

Suicide Prevention Lifeline

It’s OK to Talk about Suicide
(fact sheet)

Although it is a difficult conversation to have with your kids, research shows that bringing up the subject of suicide does not put the thought into your child’s head. In fact, it helps to open the door with them and create a safe space for them to release their burdens, lessening their risk of making the attempt. Doctors say it is important to approach the subject differently depending on the child’s age. Here are some tips from parenting experts as to how you can approach the subject:

Preschool-Kindergarten

Keep it simple. Children at this age don’t fully understand, and cognitively are not ready for such a deep conversation.
Conversation example: “That person died, and it is really sad.”

Age 7-10

Give short but truthful answers. It’s important for this age to understand that death is sad and the person died from a disease. Be sure to follow your child’s lead during this conversation. Allow them to ask follow up questions. This helps you not give too much information and overwhelm your child.

Age 11-14

Be clear and concrete. Parenting experts say 1 in 3 children have experienced mood dysregulation that scares them by this age. Gather information they have so you can correct anything that is wrong. Be sure to ask your child if they have ever thought about suicide.
Conversation example: “What have you heard about suicide?”

High School Students

Be observant. At this age mental health conditions are very common. Reassure them that these conditions are normal and they should reach out for help. You can have the same conversation as you would with middle schoolers but replace “if” with “when”.
Conversation example: “What are you going to do when you see your friend struggling?”

College Students

Check in often. If your child tells you that they are “ok” or “fine” encourage them to expand on it some more, it helps to show them that even though you are not physically there you are still around to listen and help. Let them know they are not alone.
Conversation example: “Is there anything I can do to support you?”