Dealing With Difficult Times

Let’s start with this checklist of guidelines for reducing the anxiety within your household:

1. General guidelines:

Stay calm:

• • 80% of all those diagnosed will have mild flu-like symptoms,
  • Most of us will stay healthy,
  • Few children have been affected.

Be sensible:

• • Listen to news and other guidelines on what to do,
  • Follow guidelines religiously,
  • Stay away from crowds, maintain a 1.5-meter distance between you and another person,
  • Wash your hands as often as possible, avoid touching your face, sneeze in your elbow, clean and disinfect surfaces,
  • Consider health guides before visiting elderly family, including grandparents,
  • Use technology to stay in touch with loved ones,
  • Have a 2-week supply of food and over-the-counter medication, know where to order food online,
  • Use online health services (e.g. Telehealth in Australia) and online consultations to access medical and allied health assistance and support (We offer consultations, where you can get childhood development assistance online)
  • Use online classes to support calm and focused attention – use the Home Course,  which consist of 5 minutes of targeted exercises for any age. Nil preparation time nor extra equipment needed

​​​​​​​2. When your community is functional with schools remaining open:

• Follow the general guidelines above.

​​​​​​​3. When your community is functional, but schools and many public places are closed:

• Stay calm.
• Have a conversation with all adults in your child’s immediate circle to plan action and on how to communicate this to your children.
• Have a conversation with your children to explain what is happening around the world. Tailor this to your child’s age and ability to follow conversations, use visual images when necessary, write a social story as needed.
• Prepare a daily routine

4. When you are under quarantine and fully housebound:

• Stay calm
• Add more time to connect with others while using technology.
• You won’t be able to go on excursions, so use the time to watch fun movies as a family.
• Do those spring cleaning chores that you have postponed for a long time.
• Catch up on old friends and family on social media.
• Play board games, teach card tricks.
• Have a concert evening where family members perform, e.g. write some ideas for characters on cards, each family member pulls a card from the pack and prepare for a show. These can be animals, famous characters and stars, or short plays (e.g. Free Scripts for Kids/ Theatre or Short Plays and Skits for Kids),
• Have an ‘evening out’ at home, e.g. order take away dinner from a favourite place, set a table with candle light and soft music, have a movie night with popcorn and all you would have had at the movies, create a dance evening with each family member’s favourite music and dance – change the lighting and dress up.

We trust that you and your family will use these guidelines, enjoy time together and that you’ll be able to look back to a challenging time which you transferred into a precious family building time.

We are looking forward to hearing from you. Share your experiences with us on social media and in private conversations through e-mail or online consultations.

Marga and the CoordiKids Team