How to Keep Kids Positive During Quarantine: Self-Efficacy
Image by Ella Johnson @canva
As part of our ongoing series on nurturing positive thinking, I have been looking at resources for how to keep adults and kids positive during Stay-at-home / Shelter-in-place orders now issued.
But, just how to do that?
Helping you and your child feel a sense of self-efficacy can be very healing and nurturing in this time but better said than done. . . . So just how to do that?
What is SELF EFFICACY?
Self-efficacy is our ability to feel a sense of control in one's surroundings.
TOP TIPS EXPLAINED
So here are our tips for how to do that:
1. Baking (I've seen loads of pics).
It’s a precise process that requires measurement, timing, and care. The simple act of measuring our ingredients can give your kids a great sense of calm by giving them a solid sense of control over their surroundings and process. Plus, it gives all of us a sense of control and completion!
2. Writing a letter of thanks to medical staff
It seems simple but doing an activity with a set beginning middle and end can give children a great sense of control.
3. Writing letters to loved ones
This activity is all about allowing your kids to help look over loved ones.
4. Letting your kids help or participate in "cooking"
Not only is this a great activity, but it can also serve dual purposes of being a live science experiment because so much of cooking involved lessons about food sources, the environment, seasonality and so much more.
5. Creating art for elderly family members, medical workers, or the sick
This activity helps give kids again a dual activity of being occupied (away from the television) but also gets their creativity going.
6. Participating in community challenges
This is a new but powerful way to engage children with their sense of greater participation in the community. So often during quarantine, children can feel separated from classmates and beloved teachers. By participating in family or group challenges, it gives children a sense of community that may be urgently missing.
7. Driving by to say hi (from a distance) . . .
Sometimes, there is nothing like the real thing! How can you help your kids help their friends: scheduling virtual playdates and even maybe driving them by a friend to say or wave hello from the car. Just a face-to-face can bring relief from anxiety from being distanced from friends.
When kids and adults find ways to help and support the efforts, it helps give all of us a sense of purpose and peace. The structure is already known to give us a sense of calm. When we apply that to the pandemic and give ourselves activities with structure and purpose it services a dual effect.