How to Keep Kids Positive During Quarantine: Part III: Targeting the Task Positive Network

Apr 21

Dear Readers,

As we round the corner into month 2 of quarantine, I have been looking at resources for how to keep adults and kids positive. ⁠ ⁠ As part III of our series, I wanted to help demystify why people big and small run negative during downtimes and as a result the pandemic.

Did you know that we absolutely can give ourselves and those around us--ahem the kids--a feeling of calm and serenity even in times of great certainty by targeting the TASK POSITIVE NETWORK of our brains?

When we are engaged in purposeful projects, creativity, and our work/school, we are engaging the "task-positive" parts of our brains. But have you noticed that when your or your kid's big project or test is over, you or your kids begin to ruminate? The negative thinking starts up? That is because the default of your brain, when untrained, can often run negative.

This time of quarantine can be a time of great "downtime" when those thoughts of catastrophe are amplified! So how can we give you and your kids a way to get back into the "task-positive" parts of your brain!

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Helping you and your child feel a sense of self-efficacy can be a huge way to target the "task-positive" network.⁠

So just how does one do that? ⁠

Self-efficacy is our ability to feel a sense of control in one's surroundings.

So here are our simple tips for how to do that: ⁠ ⁠

For Big Kids (High School & Middle School):

1. Make creative plans for what to do this summer
2. Organize the week's assignments in a planner
3. Make a list of new youtube videos/webinars to watch
4. Re-organize closets
5. For Juniors start looking up colleges for your college list
6. Write a gratitude list

For All Ages (but special emphasis on Elementary):

1. Baking (I've seen loads of pics) -- its a precise process that gives all of us a sense of control and completion!⁠
2. Writing a letter of thanks to the medical staff⁠ at your local hospital
3. Writing letters to loved ones⁠
4. Letting your kids help or participate in "cooking" meals for the whole family
5. Creating art for elderly family members, medical workers or the sick⁠
6. Participating in community challenges⁠
7. Driving by friends to say hi (from a distance)⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠
8. Have little ones write a gratitude list

When kids and adults find ways to help and support the efforts, but also address what they do have control over in their immediate environment, it helps give all of us a sense of purpose and peace.