Featured
Self-care is not selfish or indulgent—it’s how we keep ourselves well to ensure we are physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of being there for our young children.
Parenting a young child is already stressful at times. That’s why it’s important to remember to take care of yourself, too. When you feel calmer, it’s easier to be there for your children and meet their needs.
The Case for Self-Care During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Most everyone has heard the flight attendant tell them to put their own oxygen mask on before helping others. The same goes for parenting—your health and well-being is important so that you can nurture your child. Self-care is not selfish or indulgent—it’s how we keep ourselves well to ensure we are physically, emotionally, and mentally capable of being there for our young children.
The realities of COVID-19 make self-care even more important. The unknowns of what’s coming next can worry even the calmest of parents. If faced with long periods of uncertainty, other stressors may emerge—concern for family members, worries about lost income, keeping the fridge full of groceries, balancing job roles with child care, and more. But young children need their parents to offer a calm, stable, and predictable “home base” for them. It’s a challenge, but as a parent, the best way to help your child be at their best is to take care of yourself.
Pay Attention to How You Are Feeling
Anxiety, worry, and grief are normal responses during and after an event like coronavirus. You may feel overwhelmed by ordinary tasks or annoyed in situations when you’d usually be patient.
- Take time to notice your feelings and pause and reflect before responding to your child or co-parent. When you need to get calmer, try taking a few deep breaths to clear your head. Or you might try a mindfulness activity to restore your sense of calm.
- Consider limiting your exposure to the news. You might choose to watch a daily update from a trusted public health official or check in online at predetermined times when your child is not in the room.
- Think about reaching out to a healthcare professional for help with physical or mental health concerns. Many healthcare providers have moved to telemedicine during the pandemic—offering appointments online or by phone.
Read more tips in the full article here: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3262-young-children-at-home-during-the-covid-19-outbreak-the-importance-of-self-care
