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Helping Families Through the Coronavirus Pandemic

Educating Your Children on the Coronavirus

  • Make it age appropriate
  • Focus on making smart and educated decisions, rather than fear based ones
  • Answer their questions honestly
  • Try to instill hope
  • Remain calm

​Links to help:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/parenting/coronavirus-kids-talk.html

https://www.mindheart.co/descargables?fbclid=IwAR1pK6aMfWJTQCFKnyCsjlhY1KYX8pW-RcoAOi_JCkj6Di6Q6Fr21u8xfYM

https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/NASN/3870c72d-fff9-4ed7-833f-215de278d256/UploadedImages/PDFs/02292020_NASP_NASN_COVID-19_parent_handout.pdf

https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/a-child-psychiatrist-explains-how-to-talk-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/

A colorful informational poster titled "A Kid’s Guide to Coronavirus" explains what coronavirus is, its symptoms, prevention tips, and reassures children not to worry.
Infographic showing five steps for handwashing: wet hands, get soap, scrub, rinse, and dry. Text reads, “Wash Your Hands!” with CDC logo at the bottom.
Illustration of two people standing 6 feet apart, with particles traveling from one person toward the other, indicating social distancing.
An infographic showing how to reframe negative thoughts about self-isolation into positive ones, with paired statements and advice to stay positive during tough times.
Cartoon green germ with big eyes and yellow teeth in the bottom right corner; space above invites users to draw themselves defeating the germ.
A graph compares chaotic, severe stress with predictable, moderate stress, showing resilience increases with daily structure, exercise, social support, and positive focus.

Self-Care Ideas for Families

  • Structure your day

    > Keep bedtime routines, daily chores, and weekly activities.

    Have family meals

    > Great way to keep structure and check in with each other.

    Limit media

    > Children are great at picking up on emotions from others. During this time when many people are experiencing fear, limiting time on violent media can help. ​

    Exercise

    > Riding bikes, scooters, skateboards, running, jumping jacks, and exercising competitions. ​

    Reach out

    > Connecting with friends and family through Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype.

    Help others​

    > Help others physically, financially, and/or emotionally. ​

    Practice good sleep hygiene​

    > Getting a good night’s rest, avoid eating late, and limit screen time around bedtime.

    Stay positive and future-focused​

    > Before you know it, everything will be back to normal. During this time, enjoy the extra time to spend with family and to tackle the projects on the to do list.

Links to help with self care:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pulling-through/202004/the-pandemic-toolkit-parents-need

​https://www.perimeterhealthcare.com/about/news/the-importance-of-self-care/

​https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/buildingselfesteem/2015/09/why-self-care-is-important-for-your-mental-physical-health

​https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/07/health/child-abuse-prevention-coronavirus-wellness/

A self-care menu lists activities like deep breathing, stretching, music, meditation, reading, journaling, walking, crafting, and cooking, each with suggested time durations.
A self-care chart for families organized into six categories: emotional, physical, spiritual, mental, practical, and social, each with a list of related activities.
Infographic listing self-care ideas for parents, including waking up early, cooking, moving, media breaks, setting boundaries, listening to music, talking, asking for help, and getting dressed.

Are your children acting out?

This experience is difficult for everyone​, even children can experience stress and anxiety from all the sudden changes. The following will share some warning signs that your child might be feeling the effects of the pandemic: [Image Right]

Infographic listing 8 ways a child's anxiety can manifest: anger, difficulty sleeping, defiance, chandeliering, lack of focus, avoidance, negativity, and overplanning, with cartoon illustrations.

What To Do When Your Child Acts Out

Keep your calm

  • If you are shouting and screaming to match your child’s voice levels, it will only escalate the issue.

Allow them time to express their emotions​

Try to provide them with the language of their emotions​​

  • “You are feeling very upset right now”​
  • “You are frustrated right now”
  • “You are feeling sad”

This will help your child vocalize their emotions in the future instead of having tantrums.

Practice slow deep breaths with them​​

Instructional poster titled "Activity to Disengage Stress" showing four breathing exercises: S.T.A.R., Balloon, Pretzel, and Drain, each with a cartoon illustration and brief description.
A checklist titled "Coping Skills Checklist" divides calming and distraction skills, listing activities like deep breathing, yoga, reading, cleaning, and playing with pets.
A chart titled "Zones of Regulation Daily Check-Ins" showing four colored zones with characters and emotions: Blue (sad), Green (calm), Yellow (worried), Red (angry).
A chart showing alternative positive phrases for addressing a child's tantrum, replacing common commands with supportive questions and statements.
A black-and-white worksheet titled "Coping Skills" lists self-care and mental strategies to help manage difficult emotions, including exercise, hobbies, positive thinking, and seeking support.
A table with four zones—Blue, Green, Yellow, Red—showing emotional regulation strategies: Ask for a hug, Smile/positive moment, Fidget with, and Squeeze a stress ball.

What To Do When Your Child Acts Out

While everyone’s life has flipping upside down, structure can help all of us, children as well

  • Helps with productivity​
  • Maintains sense of normalcy
  • Makes day go by faster
  • Ensures that work gets done as well as time for relaxing

https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/helping-kids-adjust-online-learning-during-coronavirus-pandemic/37106

Color-coded COVID-19 daily schedule for kids, detailing activities by hour: wake up, academic time, creative time, lunch, quiet time, chores, outdoor time, dinner, free TV time, and bedtime.
Quarantine checklist for teenagers with sections for physical, social, emotional/psychological, academic/intellectual, and basic needs, each with brief suggestions and checkboxes.
A colorful checklist titled "#STAYATHOME CHECKLIST" with morning, afternoon, and evening tasks organized in separate boxes.
A quarantine checklist for children with sections for physical, social, emotional, academic activities, and chores; includes checkboxes and a smiling emoji in the bottom right corner.

Exercise with the kids!

  • Exercise is a great way to get blood flowing through the body
  • Helps you stay fit and healthy
  • Fills up time
  • Helps with productivity
  • Can be super fun following some kid friendly workouts
A printable "Simon Says" activity sheet with illustrated children and a list of physical movement prompts designed for kids’ fitness and fun.
Colorful chart titled "Fit activity for kids: what's your name?" with an alphabet list assigning a physical activity to each letter, such as jumps, spins, or push-ups.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a different type of exercise that helps your mental and emotional health

  • Helps aid high anxiety levels
  • Keeps kids present
  • Connects mind, body, and soul
  • Makes you appreciate life
  • Can be more physical, such as yoga
Poster titled "Calm Down Yoga for Kids" shows yoga poses with affirmations: I am strong, kind, brave, friendly, and wise, each with an illustrated child doing a related pose.
A worksheet displays coping strategies for kids, including a 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise, a star-shaped breathing guide, and a list of calming activities.
Gratitude journaling sheet with spaces for name, date, what you are thankful for, who brought you joy today, and the best thing about being home today.
Four intricate mandala designs, each with a positive affirmation beneath: solutions to problems, fresh starts, trying hard, and self-acceptance.
A gratitude scavenger hunt list with eight prompts, botanical illustrations, and handwritten-style font on lined paper.
Black and white illustration of a jar with a tag reading "THANK YOU" and the text "Gratitude Jar: Look around you; what are you grateful for?" written above.
Colorful worksheet with sections for grounding exercises, a worries chart, and gratitude prompts; includes areas to write senses, worries, and things to be thankful for.

Keeping Busy

The next few pictures offer different types of activities to keep the kids busy during quarantine and social distancing:

​https://parade.com/1009774/stephanieosmanski/things-to-do-with-kids-during-coronavirus-quarantine/

​http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/arts-culture/mandala

A bulleted list titled "Ideas For Families to do at Home" includes activities such as building a fort, board games, art, homemade play dough, card games, and writing letters to the elderly.
A colorful list titled "I'm Bored... Things I Can Do By Myself" with various solo activities for kids, including reading, crafting, drawing, building, and more.
A colorful poster titled "I'm Bored... Things I Can Do With A Sibling" lists various fun activities for siblings to do together, such as games, crafts, and creative play.

At Home Date Ideas for Couples

Examples of date ideas for couples include:

  • Exercising together
  • Homemade/take-out candlelit dinner
  • Watch a concert/movie/Broadway show together
  • Spa treatments
  • Scavenger hunt
  • Game night
  • Chocolate fondue
  • Art/craft date
  • Start a garden
  • Puzzles
  • Karaoke

​

https://psiloveyou.xyz/10-date-night-ideas-when-youre-stuck-in-quarantine-283105d205db

​https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/date-ideas-for-coronavirus-quarantine/

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/relationships/g31789628/quarantine-date-ideas/

​https://1037kissfm.radio.com/blogs/jmatt/10-date-ideas-during-your-isolation-making-quarantine-fun

Are You or Someone You Know Unsafe?

The virus is not the only unsafe thing out there. Many people are now quarantined with their abusers. Emotions, stress, and anxiety are heightened due to the virus, which might lead to higher levels of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, child abuse, etc.

​National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

https://www.thehotline.org/help/

​Florida Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline 1-800-962-2873

https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/abuse-hotline/

What to do if domestic violence occurs during coronavirus shutdown

https://www.miamiok.com/news/20200409/what-to-do-if-domestic-violence-occurs-during-coronavirus-shutdown

​As cities around the world go on lockdown, victims of domestic violence look for a way out

https://time.com/5803887/coronavirus-domestic-violence-victims/

Assistance

You are not alone during this pandemic. Lots of people are feeling the impacts of the virus, not only physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. If you are struggling, we are here to help you and your family get through this.

​Call us today at 561-503-3059 or email marriagefamilyservices@comcast.net to schedule a teletherapy sessions with one of our amazing therapists.

​We accept almost all types of insurance!

​We hope that everyone is staying safe, healthy, and happy!

Logo showing two stylized trees forming a heart shape with green leaves, representing "Marriage & Family Services" written below.

We’re Now Open in Stuart, FL!

Marriage & Family Services is proud to announce the opening of our newest office in Stuart, Florida. We are welcoming clients at our new location and look forward to supporting even more individuals, couples, and families in the community.

Stuart Location
1111 SE Federal Highway Suite 120
Stuart, FL. 34994

Coming Soon | New office in Tallahassee, FL!