19/02/2021
Hey guys,
This lockdown is tough... Everyone is feeling it. It is clear that there is a massive increase in anxiety in children, teens and adults. Yet not so long ago 'Toilet Paper' became Big News and was more talked about and actively fretted upon (remember the panic buying episode.... Wow 😬) than our mental health. 🙈
We were literally catupulted into a new way of so called 'living' almost overnight and it created so much fear, stress and challenges for us all. It was like watching a gigantic Tsunami 🌊🌍 coming for us that was crashing over each and every country destroying everything in its path and all that we had known as human beings😔.
Over the coming weeks we will see our children return to school, preschool etc... And they may be feeling fearful, anxious, very stressed or fingers crossed for some, hopefully excited. Either way they all need the right support 😊 to make this transition back into the world again.
With that in mind, I have added some tried and tested tips and support for parent's and our little one's, that may help with their journey back out there. 🌟
Tips:
👉 Communication with Teacher's
Support your child and Teacher early by sharing your child's experience of lockdown briefly, key points. Some families have had horrendous experiences that may have been traumatic for your child. This information is vital.
Start sharing now via Seesaw, Alladin etc., and create a positive opportunity to have your child supported at school from the get go, thus ensuring a smooth as possible transition.
👉 Massage
Human touch helps us feel connected, supported and comforted. For thousands of years, touch has been an essential part of healing - both physically & emotionally. Science backed benefits: 💜
- Increase immune function
- Aid's sleep
- Decreases stress hormones
- Increases feel good hormones, serotonin & dopamine
- Relaxation
I know my kids have struggled sometimes during lockdown to sleep at their normal bedtime but adding lavender oil to their bath and using it for a massage has had a huge impact on their overall wellbeing and sleep pattern. Plus on a rainy day, it is great fun to have a Salon Day and reap the rewards. 😍
👉 Breath work:
Breathing Buddies 🐻 are a great tool to help your child connect with their breath and wind down after a long day. Place their favourite Teddy on their belly. Have them take a deep breath in and get them to watch their buddy rise up, up, up and then down, down, down as they breathe.
👉 Nature:
Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and the production of stress hormones. 😁
My sanctuary and sanity has been the Greenway throughout lockdown 🙏.
Children's stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces and spending time outside raises levels of Vitamin D. ✅
👉 Bedtime banter:
Openly talk about school's reopening, be positive, actively listen. For example, This week after storytime in bed I was asking my children how they were feeling about it and this lead to how their minds felt. My six year old eloquently expressed how his mind felt that day which was in his words 'medium' and his explanation for this was because he said he was finding it hard lately to fall asleep. What a little star 🌟
👉 Find a creative ritual:
Examples....
- Family cuddle time - everyday at a certain time, drop everything and pile onto the sofa together and cuddle for 5 mins.
- Keep a gratitude jar and empty it every Sunday and read ye're entries together, young kids can draw theirs.
- Art & pizza night every Friday
Endless list so get creative and make it a positive ritual weekly that everyone looks forward to 🙏
The good news is all of this is Free and at our fingertips...
If this is something you dig, or if you know someone/family it may help, Please Share. Stay safe &
Keep the faith ✌️
Much love,
Aoife ❤️
