Emotional Toll of COVID for Kids
Let’s put down the dumbbell for a second and talk mental health in kids. One of the core values of REGENERATE Strength is valuing human connection and interaction, and with the onset of this “new normal”, we are seeing a sharp left hand turn away from those crucial values. We need to be paying A LOT of attention to our youth and how resilient they are…or aren’t, when it comes to what this unprecedented time has brought upon all of us.
Some of our kids are facing serious mental health challenges because of the pandemic. They are either doing school remotely or are wearing masks all day (think about the incredible toll this is having on their psyche) and all of them are being asked to stay physically distanced from their closest friends (social conditioning). It’s a lot for anyone to handle–and especially kids!
If you’re like me, childhood was the best! We met up with friends after school, rode our BMX bikes in the neighborhood until it was dark, we got dirty, scraped our knees, climbed trees, got in fights with other neighborhood kids. Human connection and interaction were core to our upbringing, but now most kids are living in a perpetual state of fear. Their resiliency is being tested at such a young age, and it just isn’t fair.
A study about mental health in college kids during the pandemic just came out, and I would guess the findings mostly translate to grade-school-aged kids as well.
In the spring of 2020 when many schools and colleges went remote, researchers did a survey of more than 2100 college students from 7 universities across the US. They discovered what risk factors put some kids at a higher risk of psychological struggles related to the pandemic. Here’s the list:
➔ Being female
➔ Engaging in more screen time (unhealthy amounts of blue light)
➔ Knowing somebody who contracted ‘the virus’ (constant state of fear)
➔ Having fair or poor health rather than good overall health (being forced to stay indoors and away from other kids)
On the ‘bright side’, the survey also showed that spending 2 or more hours of time outdoors each day was beneficial for students’ mental health (well, duh). While this could be considered a ‘bright side’ for some, the question really needs to be asked…why is this even being considered as a ‘bright side’? This should not be a ‘bright side’, this should be alarming at best. We know that sunshine, human connection ad interaction (in person, without a mask, smiling faces) is how we as humans thrive. We are social creatures, we are designed to connect (not through zoom calls) and to see each others faces and expressions. Children are extremely vulnerable and suggestible while they’re young. They inherently trust that their parents know what is best for them and will take cues from what they learn through their upbringing.
For as much as all of us are struggling to stay sane during this pandemic, let’s not forget the kids. Get them outside. Get them EXERCISING. Get them eating healthy. Get them in a routine that includes time to relax and to play. Most of all, set the example of what it means to be human with them. Remember what it was like when you were a kid. Give them the opportunity to be kids! All of these things can set them up for better mental health and to have better resiliency as they continue to navigate this crowded, confusing world.
Also, if you have a child, teen, or college kid who you are worried about right now, please reach out for help. At REGENERATE Strength our goal is to help clients build resiliency, autonomy and develop strong Coach/Client relationships that will help struggling youth and adults reach their true potential. Click HERE for a FREE Discovery Call. Connecting with a Coach that understands what you or your child are dealing with during this crazy time, can be a powerful way to support overall health, mood, and mental resilience.
