Childcare and education expert, Ann Harris of Little Minds 1st Academy comes on the Rashad Richey Morning Show and answers pressing questions about how Covid-19 has impacted our children.
Dr. Richey: This Pandemic has been extremely stressful for so many of us. Sickness, death, loss of jobs, etc. We can see the effects that it has had on adults. In your opinion, how has COVID affected children and their ability to cope.
Ann Harris: I’ve read a lot of information on COVID-19 and how it affects children, but one article in particular was most interesting to me. It was written by a Child Psychologist, Elizabeth Kasper, who pointed out several ways that COVID-19 can cause anxiety and stress in our children. She confirmed a lot of what I already knew. For example;
Some children might not be very concerned, whereas others develop unpleasant feelings. Like adults, children also have different personalities and levels of resilience, which affects their wellbeing.
Some children might develop higher levels of stress, feeling restless or grumpy. Some might develop anxiety and become irritable, aggressive or scared. Depending on how long the situation lasts, feelings of sadness or depression could appear, which could lead to social withdrawal or crying.
All these feelings can also display in physical reactions including stomachaches, headaches, or loss of appetite.
Dr. Richey: We’ve closed businesses, schools to some extent, things are so different now. How has our actions and/or reactions to the Pandemic impacted our children?
Ann Harris: Our children have definitely been. impacted by these things; for example:
The lack of routine. Routines give children structure and a framework they can rely on, which is very important. Routine and structure give them a feeling of safety and comfort.
Another big thing is the loss of social contact. Imagine how children miss their grandparents, playmates and friends! Younger children are not even capable of getting in contact with their friends/grandparents by themselves. To accept the recommended and necessary barriers is difficult for us adults and probably much more difficult for our little ones.
Parents working from home is also not easy for children to accept and understand, especially for the younger ones: they see their parents at home but the parent has no time for them. Often children are told to go to their rooms and play, while the parent is working. This sometimes causes the child to feel isolated and along.
Finally, MEDIA can have a negative effect on children, just as it might have on us. The continuous stream of reports and pictures of people who are getting sick and even dying that children are seeing on TV and hearing on the radio, because their parents have it on can lead to fear and anxiety.
Dr. Richey: You made the point about parents working from home and the effects that that has on the small children as far as being isolated during the day and not having interactions with family and friends. Are children affected developmentally by isolation and lack of interaction?
Ann Harris: At a young age, children begin to develop social, cognitive, emotion skills. They learn these from family first and then school or childcare centers where they have developed friendships. Being Isolated from family during the day while parents are working and older siblings are doing virtual learning affects them socially, emotionally as well as their cognitive development. It can also lead to behavioral concerns because they are not receiving the human contact and interaction they need and desire.
Dr. Richey: You’ve given us a lot of points to digest. What can caregivers do to help children cope and / or prevent becoming anxious and stressed as we navigate this pandemic?
Ann Harris: Fortunately, most children are very flexible and can adapt to situations sometimes better than adults can. However, there are some things that we can do to help:
I feel that it is so important for the children to be around their friends and to have that social contact, which is why having them in an environment like ours can be very helpful. We take all safety precautions, while ensuring that the children are able to interact and do fun things together.
Talk to them. Help them to express how they are feeling and show compassion for them when they may be struggling because they haven’t seen their grandparents or couldn't have a big birthday party, etc.
Answer their questions about what is going around them. However, we must be very careful to ensure that any information that we share is “age appropriate”.
A small child probably knows how it feels to have a cold. So maybe use that to explain that people can get sick from the coronavirus and have to stay at home, like when they have a cold. Also focus on talking about positive things they can do like handwashing, covering their mouth when they cough, etc.
Ensure that they are physically active. According to child psychologists, exercise increases the psychological and physical wellbeing and also reduces stress hormones. We take them outside for play time and if the weather does not permit, we have an indoor gym.
As adults, we have to be careful about how we are projecting our inner thoughts and emotions. If we are anxious and/or stressed, children can feel that and it will have an impact on them.
Children will model the behaviors that they see in their parents and caregivers so we have to be role models.
Dr. Richey: Ann, tell us how we can contact you to get additional information.
We can be reach by phone at 678-800-1116
Or email at: Info@littleminds1st-academy.com
You may also visit our Website at: www.littleminds1st-Academy.com
Address: 1730 Tuscan Heights Blvd, Kennesaw, Ga 30152. Give us a call if you would like to schedule a visit.
Listen to the full interview below.
The #RRMS can be heard Mon - Fri from 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. replay at 7 p.m.
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