My five-year-old daughter was very upset when I told her that we are going for the second lockdown in a few days time.
She’s really looking forward to seeing her cousin who is planning to come down all the way from Terengganu. But I guess, that has to wait.
“I hate this year! We couldn’t go on holiday and watch movies at the cinema, we couldn’t play with our friends as much, we just had to stay in the class and that was it. And now, another lockdown?”
I’m sure I’m not the only one having difficulties in explaining and comforting children due to the pandemic. Parents are on a red alert. Yup, the Covid-19 third wave trending is worrying us.
After the first CMCO in June and things started to get okay, those in Klang Valley are yet ‘struggling’ to explain to the kids that there’s another round of lockdown.
My neighbour’s four-year-old son was asking her, “I did behave well last time. I need to go to school and meet my friends.”
Just like you, I’m worried too. Mummies, in these hours of ‘struggles’ we really need to gather our strength to instil positivity to our children.
So, how is that possible?
Teaching Children To Stay Positive
Perhaps here are some points for you to consider for a positive mindset and outcomes that children should have and behave.
#1 Set good examples
Before we could ask our children to be positive, we must first have to gather all our strength to be and stay positive.
Yup, it might be difficult for some, especially those we had to face financial issues and anything similar. But always bear in mind, your children won’t listen much to what you have to say, but to see how you act on things.
Take it easy and calm down. Do not overstress yourself. Choose to have a positive attitude and put it into the display.
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#2 Find the blessings from the MCO
While children won’t stop complaining about having the lockdown, let them reflect and think of the blessings on the whole situation.
Enlighten them with how the MCO brings everyone in the house to stay together, have meals together, watching TV together, for a longer time than they could imagine. Isn’t it precious?
Appreciate the bonding time, the laughter, the jokes, and all. It might not last as time will pass.
#3 When life gives you lemons, make lemonades!
Invite your children to find solutions to their boredom. Tell them they could always be creative and think of something on how to live the life they wanted.
If watching movies at the cinema is what they wish, bring the cinema to your living room. Set a movie night and go along with the theme and all.
If they miss their friends, set a date online with their friends, and set an online activity for them to enjoy it.
#4 Get creative
There are so many things that you can do together with your children during the lockdown.
Try craft DIYs like simple cards creations, cake-baking, soap-making, or anything that might entice your children so that they don’t get bored.
You could even plan to rearrange the furniture, redecorate and do spring cleanings for the house. Just get their hands busy and best is to get their input from the planning stage until the implementation.
#5 Avoid saying ‘NO’
Saying ‘NO’ will always relate to negativity.
Being Asian, I know, it won’t be as easy should we want to avoid saying ‘no’ to our children, especially when they asked for it!
In addition, the lockdown is a stressing phase for both parents and children.
Mummies, there are always ways for us to maintain our authorities as parents and keep the boundaries and limits to the children.
The key point is to be firm, but kind. For example, should you need to set a screening or gadget time with the children so that they don’t get overboard, you must tell them that you are serious in implementing the rules.
Put them on time off or penalized them with reduced screen time or even doing extra chores should they failed to adhere to the rules. You don’t have to scream and scold them out loud, just stay firm and strict.
#6 Build children self-esteem
Not being able to mingle physically and finding limitations to some activities just because you are locked down could possibly make a child develop low self-esteem.
To top to that, online classes might be another point that could demotivate children. Help and guide your children in their learning.
Focus on their strength. Don’t be too harsh in giving feedback and praise them when they earn it. But, never overdoing it. Always teach them how they could improve themselves.
#7 Find solutions in every problem
If your children are facing problems, be it with the e-learning issues or just missing their friends, find solutions, and alternative to solve it.
Guide them step-by-step on how to identify the problems, brainstorm on the solutions by evaluating the risks, and solve it. This could develop good leadership skill within themselves.
#8 Gratitude journal
Make a gratitude journal. Let them right consistently the things they are thankful for. Thanking the weather, thanking the food, thanking the free time and every single thing.
By jotting down could make them realize how grateful they should be for what is happening. Teaching children appreciation would raise humans who would have high empathies with others.
#9 Acknowledge bad situations
Despite trying to stay positive and increase self-esteem, we shouldn’t run away from reality. Acknowledging the whole situation will be a step of acceptance and admit that bad things do happen.
Explain to them that it is just not their problem alone. In fact, the whole world is facing the pandemic crisis and struggling to make ends meet.
Let them understand that apart from everything that is happening, they should always try to stay positive in order for them to stay happy.
#10 There’s a silver lining
Keep reminding them to be patience. After all, there’s always a silver lining in every cloud. The sun will surely shine after the rain, and if we are lucky, there’ll be a rainbow to follow after.
We can’t control what is happening to the world, but we surely could control our reaction to what is happening. May we raise a positive child and may this pandemic go away the soonest possible. Stay safe, stay positive and cheer up.