April Showers: COVID Fatigue
2020: “The Coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID, The Virus…”
2021: “The Vaccine, Moderna, Pfizer, Side Effects…”
Last year vs. This Year
Last year around this time we were all hopeful that we would quarantine for a few weeks and then go back to “normal”. Fast forward through MONTHS of quarantining, distance learning, social justice movements, a presidential election and here we are 1-year later…
This year we are again feeling hopeful that we may soon return to our “normal” pre-COVID lifestyles as the vaccine is slowly but surely being rolled out to the public.
BUT, there is one key difference this year…we are all EXHAUSTED. And it’s not the “I didn’t get 8-hours of sleep” kind of exhaustion, it’s the, “I don’t even know how I’m surviving exhaustion”. For me, 2020 is like when parents first bring home a newborn - they are hit with their new reality and utterly tired from the long nights, but hopeful that soon their sleepless nights will end. 2021 is when parents have managed months of sleepless nights and are now on autopilot as they make it through their day.
The impact on kids…
As parents and adults, we recognize the impact that a global pandemic is having on us (well, most of the time). We know we are more tired, irritable, forgetful, and overall more sensitive to other stressors - but kids usually aren’t this insightful. On top of this, since you child’s emotional brain is much larger than the smart part of their brain, they are feeling these things at much more heightened level.
Let’s take a look at some of things your kid might be doing that are signs of COVID fatigue and ways that you can help yourself and your kiddo(s)!
COVID Fatigue in Kids…
Restless/Fidgety
Less interested in school
Not wanting to use video conferencing platforms to talk with family members
Unmotivated
Emotionally Sensitive - getting upset easily (angry, crying, etc)
Endless energy
Sadness - not wanting to do things, expressing things won’t get better
Talking back or not following rules
Combating COVID Fatigue for parents…
That cliché analogy of the oxygen mask in the airplane is true! You can’t take care of your child if you aren’t taking care of yourself!
Find at least 15 minutes per day to do something for yourself that you ENJOY. Right now you are filling SO MANY different roles, which is exhausting without any additional stressors- allow yourself the time to reconnect with you.
Talk to other parents or friends that you feel can relate to your daily struggles. This will help normalize what you are experiencing. Many times we feel that we are alone in our struggles and as someone who frequently talks to parents, I can honestly say, you are not alone!
Create a daily routine. If you haven’t done so already. This will help you to maintain some sense of normalcy as we all continue to patiently wait for a post-COVID world.
Combating COVID Fatigue for kids…
Consistent daily routine. As above, if you haven’t done so already, implement a consistent and predictable routine. This will help your kiddo as they continue to deal with the daily uncertainty they face. Be sure to interweave in fun break time!
Give them choices. Even without COVID dictating how they can live their lives, kids have a need for control as they learn to grow into independent beings. I like to present kids with what I call “forced choices”. That is, in my mind I have a few things I want the child to get done and to allow them a sense of control, I give them the choice of which one they want to do first or how they will do it. For example, when getting ready for bed you will know you want them to brush their teeth, wash their face, and put on their PJs - simply ask them what order they would like to do it in. Or if they need to read 30-minutes for school, ask them where they would like to read.
Create hope for the future. Kids are missing out on a lot right now. It is important to allow them space to express their disappointments. It is also equally important that we help them to continue to look towards the future. Maybe create two boxes - one for disappointments and one for hopes - and then have them write or draw on scrap paper their disappointments and hopes.
Encourage them to be leaders in thinking. The coronavirus has created barriers to so many normal things that we participate in and yet, there have been so many creative ideas that have resulted as people learn to overcome those barriers. When your child expresses a frustration about what they can’t do, encourage them to think of creative solutions for what they can do! Even if they aren’t possible, this aids in creating a growth mindset of exploring solutions rather than getting stuck in the problem!
Model self-care. Kids learn by their parents’ example. If you are able to appropriately express, “wow, this virus has me worried and that makes me tired, I think I’ll take a nice bubble bath tonight”, they learn to recognize the stressors that are impacting them, how they are being impacted, and what they can do to take care of themselves. If everyone in the house is taking care of themselves, everyone will be in a much better mood overall!
Help them release pent up energy. Kids naturally have a lot of energy they need to release. Add to that being cooped up and stressed out by the uncertainty of the world and you have a little wind up toy ready to let loose at any moment. In addition to allowing fun breaks that include lots of movement (going outside to run around, listening to music and dancing, etc.), try incorporating small ways of releasing energy into their day. This can be having them carry in some groceries or maybe a quick plank challenge. It may be helpful to look up “proprioceptive activities” as these are always calming to our nervous system (I’ll cover that in a later blog!).
