COVID
Dealing with COVID-19 Anxiety One Year Later
Dealing with COVID-19 Anxiety One Year Later
by Dr. Liz Matheis, published in The Mighty 3/2021
COVID-19 anxiety. Pandemic anxiety. It’s still here, one year later. It’s transformed, morphed into something new with a little something old.
In the days leading up to March 13, 2021, I became emotional and dreaded seeing that date on my calendar. I didn’t realize that, in my body and spirit, I knew that the one-year mark was coming up and I was feeling increasingly anxious and stressed by the idea of this “new normal” becoming “normal.” I don’t want it to be normal anymore.
We are all tired of feeling anxious about the coronavirus. We have learned to adapt to new routines such as masks, disinfecting our hands, disinfecting surfaces and keeping distance from people in a store or on the street. These new routines are not natural and they are taking a toll on our mental, emotional and physical health.
Parenting Teenagers with Depression During COVID-19
Parenting Teenagers with Depression During COVID-19
by Dr. Liz Matheis – Published in Psychology Today, 3/28/2021
Our teens are suffering. They have been suffering for the last year and as a parent, it is heartbreaking to watch our (bigger) babies hurt so badly. Our teens are grieving the loss of so many milestones such as graduations, dances, proms, field trips, athletic games and tournaments, school plays and theater, and the spontaneous social interactions that they crave and need.
Provider Spotlight: Kiana Davis – Tutor Kids n’ More
Provider Spotlight: Kiana Davis
Kiana Davis is a K-6 certified teacher in New Jersey with over thirteen years of educational experience. Her business, Tutor Kids n’ More, offers individualized tutoring and instruction to grade school age children both virtually and in-person. Kiana also provides various childcare services including: babysitting, group babysitting and children’s party hosting. Tutor Kids n’More has been providing these services to families since September of 2017. Please check out Kiana’s website below!
COVID, Blue Light and Sleep
Working Or Learning From Home During COVID-19? Make Sure To Avoid Blue Light Before Bed
written by Slumber Yard Team/excerpt taken from myslumberyard.com
COVID-19 has brought about big changes to our everyday lives. Even before the pandemic, Americans spent more than 10 hours a day looking at screens. Now, with children attending school online and adults both working and looking for entertainment from their electronics, there’s been a significant increase in the use of technology on a daily basis.
That increase in screen time can have an impact on our ability to rest. Our sleep cycles were already disrupted by pandemic-related anxiety and stress. In fact, neurologists have discovered an increased level of sleep disorders, called “COVID-somnia,” brought about by stress over the virus. Now, the electronics we rely on during our day-to-day may also be poorly affecting your rest.
The blue light that emanates from your devices, TV, and computers can disrupt our circadian rhythm — the body’s biological alarm clock — which tells us when to sleep and when to wake up. As a result, you may have trouble falling asleep at night, causing you even more struggle when you have to wake up in the morning.
Making Up for Lost Time: Social Skills Lessons for the In-Person Classroom
Making Up for Lost Time: Social Skills Lessons for the In-Person Classroom
Excerpt from: https://blog.planbook.com/social-skills-lessons/
Parents and teachers alike are concerned about the effect that a year of enforced social isolation has had on their kids. Younger children, in particular, need social interaction to learn behavioral norms and develop social skills that will help them throughout their lives.
Many teachers are ramping up their social skills lesson plans this year. Here are a few ideas for your classroom to help your kids connect emotionally and learn positive behaviors.
I Hate Virtual Learning!
I Hate Virtual Learning!
Helping our children get through remote learning.
written by Dr. Liz Matheis/ published on Psychology Today, 3/1/2021
Never did I imagine that school would look like each of my three children sitting in front of a computer. Never did I imagine that teaching would take place via video, where the teacher is trying his or her best to re-create the classroom environment. Never did I imagine that a teacher would turn the camera to the board or share her screen as she attempted to present a lesson to students.
Virtual learning has been difficult for many of our children who need a multi-sensory learning environment in the presence of a teacher and other students. Never have I appreciated the physical school space where our children are able to enter into a building, walk through the halls, sit at a desk, and travel around the building to attend different subjects and classes.
Needless to say, it’s been a struggle for us, as parents, a struggle for our teachers, and a struggle for our children.
A Real Break on School Break
A Real Break on School Break
written by Nicole Filiberti MSW, LCSW
Navigating days off of school due to holidays or breaks can be a difficult ask for families. Children and teens can have a hard time with these changes in their routines. When adding on the continuing COVID pandemic, families may feel limited in their options in terms of activities and outings that are possible, especially during the colder months. Here are some ideas for dealing with these days.
Preparation is key
It can be especially important to prepare kids for the upcoming change in the schedule. The use of visuals can be very helpful in this situation and you can label the upcoming holidays in the calendar for them to see. Providing that knowledge ahead of time can potentially save students from the difficulty they may have dealing with unexpected change. Of course, there are also some kids who will jump for joy at the news of a day off of school so it really depends on the child!
Make a non-screen time activity a priority
With hybrid and fully remote learning models, children and teens have really experienced an increase in the amount of time they spend on a screen. It can be helpful to set aside some time on a day off to prioritize a non-screen related activity. If the weather permits, outside time is always a nice idea. If your family is more interested in an indoor activity, try to think of creative outlets for children to tap into. Making up a dance, a play, or creating a fun craft project can be a great way to enjoy the time off.
Treat it like a mental health day
Just like adults, children can also benefit from some self care and relaxation. Have a conversation with your child about the upcoming day off and ask them what they would enjoy doing to relax and unwind. It is beneficial for children to have the idea of self care normalized. Children have been navigating a ton of changes and challenges due to the ongoing pandemic and they deserve some time to relax just as much as adults do.
There are multiple options to try and make the best of these days off. Assessing the needs of your family as well as considering what is feasible is an important piece of this process. With some planning and preparation, school breaks and holidays do not have to be something to fear.
Continued Pandemic Parenting
Continued Pandemic Parenting
written by Dr. Liz Matheis, published on www.shieldhealthcare.com 1/25/21
The beginning of the new year usually brings hope, resolutions and plans. This January 2021, the new year feels different. More of the same. It’s been 10 months, almost one year of living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Our lives are the most isolated they have been given the dark, cold winter and a holiday season that was “okay” and pretty much unsatisfying.
As we continue to parent day by day with virtual learning, working from home, video meetings and chats and limited interactions with the outside world, our stress and exhaustion level is increasing.
What a Mess!
The struggles of parenting during this time have been immense. Think about how you and your family are coping. Are you, your significant other or children:
• Over eating?
• Under eating?
• Over sleeping?
• Under sleeping?
• Struggling to fall asleep?
• Feeling lethargic?
• Over exercising?
• Feeling anxious?
• OCD-like behaviors?
As we continue to not be able to identify an end in sight, we may be finding ways to cope that aren’t necessarily helpful. Take note of how you and your family are coping and discuss if your go-to ways of managing through this time are not bringing relief.
Many of us, as parents, and our children feel out of control, anxious, and our usual outlets are not available. Mom’s nights out, going to the spa, exercising at the gym or extracurricular activities, hanging with friends and other ways to have fun and decompress are no longer available to us, or are available with significant limitations.
When Should I Start to Worry about My Kids?
7 Strategies for Getting Through Virtual Learning During COVID-19
7 Strategies for Getting Through Virtual Learning During COVID-19
Written by Dr. Liz Matheis/ Published 1.18.2021 on www.shieldhealthcare.com
Virtual Learning. It’s become the bane of our existence.
As parents, we are watching our children struggle while we struggle with them. Our children are having a hard time paying attention, finding assignments, completing them, and turning them in via virtual learning. It requires additional skills such as typing, navigating email, portals such as the Google Classroom and grading portals. Prior to the pandemic, many of our children entered into the classroom, were supervised during each task, had the ability to ask questions, and were provided with handouts that they were able to complete and return without forgetting to click “Turn In.”
For middle school students and high school students, it is difficult for our children to sit for hours and complete written or online work. For example, if your child has ADHD, sitting at a desk or table for several hours will likely result in lost periods of time staring out the window, chatting with friends, or even staring at the riveting ceiling fan.
For younger students, it’s difficult to cover the multiple demands of being a student with little teacher assistance through a computer. Our young children are required to type some of their responses, or even essays. How many children in kindergarten do you know who are proficient typists? Not many. That leaves parents to type their children’s answers or incomplete assignments if parents are not available.
With teaching taking place via video screen, there is plenty of room and time for our children to log on to YouTube or watch videos while appearing to be present and attentive in class. For many adolescents and young adults, they are struggling to get started on assignments and end up having multiple missed assignments which is resulting in lower grades than in past years. Low motivation and anxiety and depression are also on the rise for many of our children. They miss seeing friends, walking to school, getting on and off the bus, participating in specials and playing on the playground.