Under normal circumstances if your staff were working from home, as an employer or HR Manager, you wouldn’t be getting involved in how they are doing in their other job, as parents. It’s their private life and none of your business, but these are anything but normal times; these are COVID-19  times and the rules have changed.

Staff will be working from home under extraordinary circumstances with novel fears and pressures including having their kids to care of whilst working for you. These will be children, who themselves are worried and confused and need extra help and support.

Kids who have overnight lost their freedom, their friends, their structure and daily activities.

Your staff may well be caught in the headlights like a deer, but here’s some advice you can pass onto them so they can unfreeze and remember they are resourceful adults up to the challenges life throws at them.

It’s perfectly predictable that at the moment our kids are experiencing fear and distress and it’s important to acknowledge this  and explore how they are feeling, but without adding to their alarm. Ask them what they have heard and respond in a way that validates their feelings and gives them factual information about what is happening (SOURCE).

Little ones might try to protect you from their distress and say they are fine, but it will show up in other ways such as:

• In their play, which can become preoccupied with the worries; mummies and daddies getting sick and going to hospital, people getting hungry, people fighting and getting angry with each other
• Kids might become avoidant when they are upset, not talking and withdrawing
• Behaviour may deteriorate and arguments and fights start
• Kids may ‘regress’ and start to act in a younger manner, depending on age you may see thumb sucking, incontinence, clinging behaviour 

If you see these types of things you can gently explore with your kid why they think these behaviours are happening, allowing them to communicate their feelings verbally rather than behaviourally. It’s crucial to turn off all punishment signals and that you understand they are upset not bad. 

Structure Is Key

Get a daily structure in place for kids as soon as you can.

Plan a weekly timetable of education and activities.

Structure in and of itself will have the impact of calming and reassuring your kids and off course annoying them if it interrupts TV time!

That structure should include regular sleep and wake times and regular mealtimes. Ensure physical activity is programmed in, even if you are isolating at home then program in family home gym activities. If you are allowed out or have a garden use this a lot! It will help you all. (SOURCE)

How to Help Your Children Deal with COVID-19 Anxieties

There are no right or wrong ways to talk to your kids and support them during the current public health crisis but here’s a helpful list of ways to think about it:

• Create an emotionally open and supportive environment 
• Be honest and be accurate, use your government and UN sources of information (WHO, CDC in the US, NHS in the UK)
• Reassure but don’t overpromise
• Validate your kid’s feeling whilst providing reassurance
• Talk at the level your kid can understand
• Control access to news channels to reduce access to frightening stories 
• Kids will learn from how you behave, and they will personalise and try to protect you from their bad feelings which they will experience as very destructive 

Because of your own fears your creativity may run dry when trying to think about activities for your kids, so here’s a few links to get you started. There are loads and things online and remember you are not alone.. reach out, network, share with other adults, stay connected and meet your needs where you can!

These links are the result of personal searches and designed to get you started and remind you that you have the capacities and resources to get through this!

• https://abcdoes.com/abc-does-a-blog/2020/03/14/at-least-50-fantastic-ideas-to-try-at-home/
• https://www.twinkl.co.uk
• https://theimaginationtree.com
• https://www.redtedart.com
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/joinin/about-blue-peter-badges
• https://world-geography-games.com/world.html
• https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home
• https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/
• https://www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/find
• https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/03/nature-detectives/
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio

Noel McDermott is a Psychotherapist and International Speaker with over 25 years’ experience in health, social care and education. An impactful workshop leader, he delivers bespoke training on a range of social care, clinical and human rights ethics and issues across multiple sectors. He is the founder and CEO of three organisations, Psychotherapy and Consultancy Ltd, Sober Help Ltd and Mental Health Works Ltd. Noel’s company offer at-home mental health care and will source, identify and co-ordinate personalised care teams for the individual.

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