As the New School Year Begins it is Important to Help our Children Cope with Stress During COVID-19
The County of Cape May Department of Health is reporting 4 new positive cases among County residents and 1 new out of county positive cases that are included in the Non-resident Active Cases listed below. Sadly, we are announcing the passing of a 64-year old male from Woodbine, “I would like to express my sincere condolences to friends and family during this sad time,” said Cape May County Freeholder Jeff Pierson.
Total positive cases of COVID-19 infection in Cape May County is now 1240 including 90 deaths.
“With children back in school, parents and/or guardians are helping children adjust to the new norm of school. One of the ways children learn to react to stress is by observing adults in their lives coping mechanisms. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children and better help them cope with stress (CDC, 2020),” said Kevin Thomas, Health Officer.
Families across the country are adapting to the evolving changes in daily life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and guardians are taking on the responsibility of helping their children adjust to the new normal, such as trying to keep children occupied, feeling safe, and attempting to keep up with schoolwork as best as possible. It is important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to a stressful situation. Parents can help reduce children’s anxiety by teaching them positive preventative measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection. This is also a tremendous opportunity for adults to model for children problem-solving, flexibility, and compassion as we all work through adjusting daily schedules, balancing work and other activities, getting creative about how we spend time, processing new information from authorities, and connecting and supporting friends and family members in new ways (National Association of School Psychologists, 2019). The following tips can help:
- Be a role model
- Be aware of how you talk about COVID-19
- Explain social distancing
- Demonstrate deep breathing
- Focus on the positive
- Establish and maintain a daily routine
- Identify projects that might help others
- Offer lots of love and affection
Stay up to date on the current situation as it evolves. Some reliable sources are New Jersey Poison Information and Education System Hotline at 211 or 1-800-962-1253, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov, World Health Organization at www.who.int, New Jersey Department of Health at COVID19.nj.gov. For additional information visit Cape May County Department of Health at www.cmchealth.net and also like us on Facebook.