It is safe to say that we are all in a new and unique season of life. For most of us, life has radically changed. Many of you are now working from home. Kids are out of school and doing at-home learning. And some of you may have recently lost your jobs or are bracing for that very phone call. This new season has presented unique challenges for each of us.
If you are a foster/adoptive parent, you already know that caring for children from hard places brings unique challenges on a “normal” day. How do we best care for our kids from hard places when “normal” and “stability” seems so far away?
Connection.
If you’ve read or watched the news lately, you know that the entire world is desperately trying to stay connected in these unprecedented times of disconnection. For everyone’s safety, we are practicing social distancing. If I am honest, I think that phrase should be called physical distancing. We need to be social and connected now more than ever! Our kids especially need this.
So, what can we do?
Connection with kids from hard places is already challenging, but I want to encourage you to fight hard and fight well for those connections with your kids right now. Technology has opened so many doors for digital connection. Maybe they need to FaceTime their biological parents sometime this week. Seeing their face may alleviate that growing fear that is within them. Schedule a Zoom call with your kids’ classmates or friends down the street. Reminders of those connections will be great for them.
While staying social is necessary, the genuine connection begins at home with you and your kid(s). Creating a safe environment is going to immensely help cast out some of their fears about COVID-19 as well as their general safety. What are some ways to do this?
- Set a routine and stick to it.
- Allow time for creative breaks.
- Be silly.
- Cook together- let your kids pick the menu!
- Avoid screen time unless it’s to connect digitally or work on schoolwork.
- Be present
While this time is undoubtedly inconvenient, scary, and uncertain, let’s view this time at home as the gift that it is- (mostly) uninterrupted time at home to connect with your kids, to remind them they are safe.
Below, we’ve included more resources for you to help connect with your kids.
Sources:
- http://www.helpandhope.org/Parenting_Tips/default.asp
- https://child.tcu.edu/connected-in-crisis-families/?fbclid=IwAR0sendnzLJuqQLpFaRPsLEYOW3yXB4_unGWKw-id5lDSVJP5XYC8RNvZ3o#sthash.mkS2EHSc.e3L0YewP.dpbs
- https://child.tcu.edu/on-staying-connected-in-crisis/?fbclid=IwAR21iO7s3JllSuwgNqmbQErYw_WotPmoZB2KFhqFuwx3AelutXAMYs43rCk#sthash.t7epjdLC.dpbs
- https://theforgotteninitiative.org/helping-your-kids-through-the-coronavirus/
