Parenting the Pandemic Child

“Keep your children wild — don’t make them grow up too fast.”

- Brooke Hampton

Children live in a world we grow up and forget about. They teach themselves so much more than we can imagine, just by observing and interacting with the world. As adults we tend to carry very little details from our childhood, so it becomes easy for us to forget what they go through as children, in a world that has a faster pace.

With the outbreak of the pandemic, children across the globe are growing up to exhibit unpredictable attributes that might stunt their mental growth and their ability to adapt to societal needs. So how do we nurture them and direct them in a direction that could help propel children born during the pandemic?

UNMONITORED GROWTH

Let’s face it, children need a lot of attention. While it has become abnormally taxing for parents to take care of their children during the pandemic, we’d like to remind caretakers that the implications could be permanent and now’s the time to give your children the love, and oversee their growth patterns to guide them through the most testing phase of our lives.

THE PANDEMIC REALITY

Remember this. Their reality is the pandemic. Some children have probably still not gotten around to skinning their knees or riding their bike through the neighbourhood without a care in the world. Threat is infused into their everyday lives and it takes every ounce of our understanding their behaviour to help them grow up with as much normalcy as possible.

Things you can do to let them know that it’s business as usual — Kite-flying, gardening, walks in safe areas, etc.

LET THEM CATCH THE PACE

Don’t rush them, things are pretty difficult and they need the time and love to process how to live normally. Help them stay motivated with their hobbies and their academics through interesting means and let them catch the pace at their own time. The whole world is learning to slow down and we must remember to teach our children the same.

GIVE THEM MILESTONES TO ACHIEVE

The one main thing lacking in our lives at the moment is the “lack of purpose.” A lot of adults have reported the sense of not knowing what to do and we’re sure children feel just as confused as us. So how do we help them set short-term goals to help them going? By simply talking to them and giving them the nudge. Check in on them and make sure they’re on track when it comes to their special skills and see if you can build anything from what they wish to work on.

There clearly is a difference in the children born before the pandemic and the ones born during. It takes a little bit of empathy and perspective from our end to help them bridge the gap and continue to build a better tomorrow. Sow the seeds today and watch your children flourish tomorrow.

Happy parenting!