Coronavirus: 6 Ways to Help a Highly Sensitive Child

Wondering how can you help your highly sensitive child through this coronavirus crisis? You are not alone.

The coronavirus has put a spoke in the wheel of life. Everything that our children recognise as normal life has suddenly been brought to a halt. Schools have closed. Sports clubs have closed their doors. Activities outside school have stopped. Self isolation. Social distancing. It’s a confusing time for adults, let alone children.

Routines

Routines are important for all children, but particularly so for highly sensitive children.

Try to keep your child to some kind of daily routine. This will help your child cope better with the fact that school has closed because of the coronavirus crisis.

Keep to the same times each day for starting school work, breaks, lunch time and finishing time as much as possible.

Keep the mornings as normal as possible; make sure children get up at their normal time, eat their breakfast, get dressed, and clean teeth. All the normal morning routine activities. Don’t sit around in pyjamas all day. Or skip normal activities.

Write the day’s timetable on a memo board or a piece of paper so that your child has a picture of their day in mind.

Be Open But Keep Your Own Emotions in Check

It’s a time of worry and insecurity right now for us all. Will our vulnerable loved ones be okay? Are our jobs safe? Will employers keep paying our salaries? What about healthcare costs?

On top of that, normal things that we take for granted are suddenly sources of stress. Like going to the grocery store. Shoppers are panic buying. Shelves are emptying faster than staff can fill them. Stores are busy, just at a time we do not want to be stuck in crowds of people. But we need to eat.

Your family is cooped up together. 24/7. That’s hard.

On top of your work, you also now have to help with school work.

Whilst it’s important to remain open and honest with highly sensitive children (most will know when you are not being truthful or are hiding something), you also need to keep your own stress and emotions in check. Your child will absorb your stress during this coronavirus crisis if you don’t.

Self Care

Now more than ever, you need to practice self care. You need to help your children practice self care.

Your personal boundaries are still relevant. Time for yourself is still vital.

Lower your expectations of yourself.

Don’t think you have to suddenly become a professional teacher who is solely responsible for your children’s education. The teachers are still responsible for your child’s education, but they are doing it from a distance. Give yourself a break. Reduce the pressure on yourself to do it all.

It just isn’t possible right now.

The better you look after yourself, the better you are able to help your child through the challenges that the coronavirus is throwing at us.

Answer Questions

Depending on the age of your child, he or she may have lots of questions about the coronavirus. They may be worried, scared or confused.

Why is school closed?

Why can’t they play with their friends?

How long are they not allowed to see their grandparents for?

Are we all going to be sick?

Answer the questions your child has in an age appropriate way. Watch children’s news programs together if it helps. But when it comes to news make sure you make it about quality over quantity. Limit your child’s exposure to an endless stream of news about the coronavirus.

For that matter, limit your own exposure too! Get your facts from the World Health Organization, or the public health authority in your country.

Acknowledge their worries and try to help them understand what is going on.

Use Technology

Keep in touch with friends, grandparents and teachers using all the technology at your disposal.

Get Outside

If at all possible get some fresh air. Get out in the garden or on a balcony. Being constantly inside will drive everyone crazy!

Together we will come out the other side of this.