Until 2020 most children spent their days interacting with other kids, neighbours, friends, and teachers. But then the pandemic struck, and their reality changed. To prevent the spread of the virus, families worldwide were forced to isolate their children inside their homes, as schools and child-care centres closed. People stay at home practising social distancing and limit their kids’ interaction with other people because they’re afraid they may catch the virus. For children and adolescents, the pandemic is triggering feelings of loneliness and anxiety.
Watching your kids struggle is one of the toughest parts of being a parent. Finding friends is challenging, and the pandemic makes it even more difficult because it prevents them from maintaining connections. Parenting guidance tells you to encourage your children to make friends by signing them up for activities, arranging playdates with other children, enrolling them for scouting and classes, and taking them to outdoor activities. Unfortunately, you cannot do this during the virus outbreak because children cannot go to school and meet their friends. Socialising is essential for your children’s health and happiness because social interactions strengthen their immune system, lower stress, and increase motivation. But how can you help them maintain and cultivate new friendships during the pandemic?
Understand how loneliness impacts your children
Loneliness during social distancing is challenging for everyone, and particularly for kids. Compared with adults, they find it more difficult to communicate their emotions, and when they are unable to connect with their peers and visit their friends, they don’t know what coping strategies to use to handle the situation.
The social distancing regulations the authorities imposed prevent everyone from spending time together and prove detrimental for children during social development and growth. Friendship relationships can support them, help them develop social identities, and offer a sense of belonging.
Loneliness can have long-term effects on children. Research related that loneliness extended over time can trigger mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Social distancing can also worsen your kids’ existing mental health conditions.
Talk about feelings
Your kids are sad about missing important social events like their friends’ birthday parties, and school games and trips. Acknowledge their loss and ask them how they feel about staying at home. Validate their feelings by showing that you understand and try to compensate for the loss by organising other activities to keep them entertained at home. Allow the children to lead the discussion and share their feelings in a way they are comfortable with. Don’t make assumptions about how they feel and think, but trust their words and ask them how you can help them overcome the situation.
Search online age-appropriate books that teach children how to deal with loneliness because they can give your kids the words to describe their emotions. Or ask them to write down what they miss about their life before the pandemic. Explore different ways to help them cope with the situation, organise a birthday celebration at home, plan a trip for when social distancing is no longer imposed, and encourage them to stay in touch with their friends by talking on the phone.
Encourage spending time with friends
Help your children find creative ways to connect with their friends. The safest way to talk and play with their school colleagues during this period is through phone calls or video chats. Get in touch with the other parents and schedule a weekly video chat with the children. Older kids and adolescents may prefer playing online games with their friends or texting. This means you may have to loosen the rules about daily screen time because the phone, computer, and tablet are the only devices that allow your children to stay in touch with their colleagues and friends.
Arrange a scavenger hunt or send them to a scout camp
When the social distancing regulations loosen up, organising a scavenger hunt in the community might be a way to help children reconnect with their friends. Coordinate with the neighbours and other parents to hide items around the area, and teach them how to behave when they see their friends again. If the children search the items simultaneously, teach them how to practice social distancing and wear masks correctly to protect themselves from catching the virus. This task requires some creativity and collaboration but can help your children fight loneliness.
At the end of the pandemic, you can enroll the children in a scouting camp or a LEGO-themed summer camp where they can meet new people and make friends. Children find scouting enjoyable because it gives them more responsibility, confidence, and a broader set of friends. In a camp, they have the chance to pursue things they might not do at home and engage in adventures with friends. Scouting will get your children off electronic devices and help them readjust to a life away from their tablet and phone. During the lockdown, they used screen devices to cope with loneliness and social distancing, but they should come back to their old routine once the pandemic ends. Spending time in a scout camp also teaches children that caring for nature and protecting rivers is essential because the planet provides them with a home.
Adopt a pet
The last but not least method to help your children cope with loneliness during the pandemic is to adopt a pet. There are more than 50,000 therapy dogs in the US. But before going to the local shelter, determine if you have space, time and budget to care for a pet. Discuss it with your partner before telling your children than you consider this idea. Studies show that having a pet protects kids from experiencing social isolation and loneliness feelings. A cat or dog offers them comfort, social support, and a sense of responsibility that can make them feel good when isolated from their friends and colleagues. Children also learn from their connection with their dog to build non-judgemental relationships with people.
You cannot control the current need for social distancing, but you can ensure it doesn’t accentuate the feeling of loneliness your children experience at home. You can help them control how they deal with the situation by encouraging them to spend their time entertainingly and connecting with their friends.
