COVID-19 Stress Hits Everyone-Toddlers to the Elderly-Simple Tips To Help

Published 4/15/2020

With the Coronavirus outbreak dominating the airwaves and nearly every in-person conversation, whether virtually or at a safe distance of six feet, our thoughts can’t help but be consumed with a barrage of questions. Unprecedented disruptions to daily schedules with no timeline for a return to the norm have left many people fearful of the future.  As uncertainty and confusion threaten to overpower our minds, folks of all ages are experiencing increased levels of stress.

It’s essential, however, not to allow this normal stress response to thrust us into a continual fight, flight, or freeze mode, that causes us to be reactive rather than responsive.

Helping the Young

As noted by the CDC, escalating stress in children and teens presents as:

Young children

• Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
• Returning to outgrown behaviors such as toileting accidents or bedwetting
• Crying
• Increased need for attachment

• Excessive worry or sadness
• Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
• Irritability and “acting out” behaviors
• Poor school performance or avoiding school
• Difficulty with attention and concentration
• Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
• Unexplained headaches or body pain
• Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

• Talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer their questions, share the facts, and listen to their concerns. Address those concerns with an assurance that as a family, you will work together to keep each other safe and meet the family’s needs.
• Limit everyone’s exposure to news coverage and social media as a continual diet of virus updates and financial impact predictions will only feed a sense of fear and uncertainty.
• Maintain a routine, even if the new norm has shifted drastically from a few weeks ago. Create a schedule that allows time for learning, relaxation, fun activities, exercise, and connecting with family and friends via electronic means.
• Speaking of fun, laughter can indeed be a “best medicine” during this tension-filled time. So, if fun activities get a bigger slice of the schedule pie, there’s nothing wrong with that. Think family board game tournaments, blanket and pillow forts in the family room, or a cookie decorating contest.
• Develop a family strategy to attack COVID-19. Stress the necessity of frequent, correct handwashing. Record the kids demonstrating their best technique.  Pay attention to nutritious eating habits and get plenty of sleep as part of the family’s strategy.

• Enlist friends and family to rally around these loved ones with scheduled phone calls or video chats. Establish a rotation that has someone checking in on Grandma morning, afternoon, and evening.
• Remind everyone to steer clear of virus talk with pre-planned topics of interest.
• Ask Grandpa about his childhood recollections of his days as an ornery teenager.
• Encourage Uncle Jim to write down or record all those old stories he’s been telling for years.
• Have Aunt Mary talk you through how to make her famous dinner rolls while you put to paper the recipe.
• Send a card or flowers to your loved ones. It lets them know you are thinking of them and can brighten their day.

Bring the Young and the Elderly Together

Encourage children and teens alike to reach out to elderly relatives who may feel especially isolated with a telephone call or, better yet, a video chat. Stream a live mini-concert or other performance from your living room. Children naturally want to make their beloved elderly friends and relatives feel better. And, wouldn’t you know it, older adults naturally want to comfort the young. It’s a blessing both ways and thinking of the needs of others will leave less time and energy for worrying about the pandemic.

With a little creativity and resilience, we can weather the COVID-19 pandemic and emerge stronger and better connected to our family and friends.

*This content is based on information available as of 4/15/20.