• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About KVH
  • Pay My Bill
  • Contact Us
  • Events & Education
  • Careers
  • Foundation
  • Show Search

KV Healthcare

MENUMENU
  • Clinics & Specialties
        • KVH Cardiology
        • KVH Dermatology
        • KVH ENT & Allergy
        • KVH Family Medicine – Cle Elum
          • Addiction Medicine
          • Anticoagulation Clinic
        • KVH Family Medicine – Ellensburg
          • Addiction Medicine
          • Anticoagulation Clinic
        • KVH General Surgery
        • KVH Geriatric Nurse Practitioners
        • KVH Home Health
          • Home Infusion Services
        • KVH Hospice
        • KVH Internal Medicine
          • Anticoagulation Clinic
        • KVH Neurology
        • KVH Occupational Medicine
        • KVH Occupational Therapy
        • KVH Orthopedics
        • KVH Pediatrics
        • KVH Physical Therapy
          • Aquatic Therapy
        • KVH Speech Therapy
        • KVH Urgent Care
        • KVH Vascular Surgery
        • KVH Women’s Health
        • KVH Workplace Health
        • KVH Wound Care
  • Hospital Services
    • Cardiopulmonary Services
      • Diagnostic Testing
    • Emergency Department
      • What to expect upon arrival
      • Ouchless ER
      • Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners
    • Family Birthing Place
      • What to Expect
      • Birth & Family Education
      • Lactation Services
      • 4th Trimester Resource Center
      • Pregnancy & Infant Loss
    • Imaging Services
      • Bone Densitometry
      • Computerized Tomography (CT)
      • Digital Fluoroscopy
      • Echocardiography
      • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
      • Digital Mammography
      • Radiography (X-ray)
      • Ultrasound
    • Laboratory Services
      • Standing Orders
      • Sample Collection
    • Nutrition Services
      • Nutrition Consultation
      • Diabetes Self-Management
      • Nutrition Classes
      • Diabetes Support Club
      • Nutrition Resources
    • Pharmacy Services
    • Surgical Services
      • Preparation for Surgery
      • Children & Surgery
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Checking In
      • Patient Policies
      • Patient Safety & Security
    • Visiting
    • Billing
      • Online Bill Payment
      • Price Transparency Tool
      • Bills from Other Providers
      • Insurance plans accepted at KVH
      • Insurance vs. Self Pay
      • Washington Health Plan Finder
    • Medical Records
    • DAISY Award Program
    • Patient Stories
    • Patient Portal
    • Quality of Care
    • Retail Pharmacy
  • Find a Provider
  • KVH News
  • Pay My Bill
  • MyPatientPortal
Hide Search

The COVID Pandemic and Its Effects on Young Children

HealthNews · Jan 18, 2021 ·

Contributor: Elise Herman, MD, KVH Pediatrics

As the COVID pandemic drags on, it can feel increasingly difficult to stay positive, and parents of young children may be noticing the effects on their child’s moods. Even preschoolers may be feeling the loss of their usual routine. They may be missing their social contacts at preschool or daycare, as well as interactions with extended family. Kids often pick up on parents’ stress, which may include worries about employment, working from home, managing on-line schooling for older kids, and perhaps food and housing insecurity.

Some young children may become more withdrawn, or have difficulty sleeping or eating. They may be quieter, more “down”, and not seem engaged. Young children may not be able to verbalize their feelings of uncertainty and loss, but may show this instead by increased irritability, difficulty handling frustration and being quicker to anger. How can we help our young children right now?

It is important to find time to talk with your child and encourage them to share how they are feeling. You don’t need to (and really can’t) solve all the issues, but just listening and empathizing can be powerful. Emphasize that your child is not alone, and you are there to keep them safe.

Encourage activity, especially outdoors, which we know is good for everyone’s mental health. Be it walking (maybe with that pandemic puppy?), bike riding, jumping rope, or playing in the snow, make sure your child is exercising regularly, ideally outside. Computers and electronics are a big part of life in this pandemic (even for some young children) but time away from ‘screens’ is crucial for all of us.

Help your child to look towards the future. There will be a time when kids can once again fully go to school, play with friends and see extended family. It is ok to talk about what you all might do in the future and how great it will be!

Guide your child in managing their frustration and anger. Kids should know that anger is normal, but it is how we handle it that is important. Be a good role model when you yourself are stressed or upset. Use techniques your child can emulate such as counting to 10, taking deep breaths, or going for a quick walk. Help kids to name their feelings (mad, angry, upset, etc.) and suggest ways to deal with these big emotions. Kids can make a ‘mad drawing’ and rip it up, pound some Playdoh or run around outside. Help your child to recognize when they are starting to feel upset so they can handle things before they are in a full meltdown. Do they feel hot? Do they clench their fists? Do they start to speak louder and faster? As your child becomes aware of early signs of anger, they will find it is easier to calm down before feeling totally out of control.

If your young child seems persistently down, irritable and unable to enjoy things as they did previously, they may be truly depressed. They may also frequently complain of not feeling well, particularly headaches and stomachaches. Depression can affect anyone, and though it is less common in young children, the pandemic is felt to be causing depression even in preschoolers. Discuss your concerns with your child’s healthcare provider. A counselor who is comfortable with children may be very helpful, and there is evidence that helping a young child who may be depressed can decrease the risk of long-term problems.

Blog Posts, COVID-19, Provider Contributor, Covid-19, Dr. Elise Herman, Pediatrics, Provider

Primary Sidebar

Categories

MENUMENU
  • KVH Stories
    • Patient Stories
    • Provider Stories
    • Donor Stories
    • Employee Stories
    • Volunteer Stories
      • Bereavement Group
      • Courtesy Desk
      • Imaging
    • Share Your Story
    • All
  • Blog Posts
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Childbirth & Family Education
    • Community
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Provider
    • Safety
    • COVID-19
    • All
  • News & Media
    • KVH News
    • Weather/Disaster Notifications
  • Press Releases

Popular Posts

  • Behind the Scenes: House Supervisors
  • Tom Penoyar, MD
  • KVH Speech Therapy & Occupational Therapy to Showcase New Facility
  • KVH transitions to a new Chief Nursing Officer
  • Coronavirus: a local story

Footer Top 1

HRSA National Health Service Corps Site

Footer Top 2

603 S. Chestnut Street - Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 962-9841

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Footer Top 3

Footer Bottom 1

Download the MyPatient Portal App
Apple Store Google Play Store

Footer Bottom 2

  • About KVH
  • Careers
  • Board of Commissioners
  • Contact Us
  • Foundation

Footer Bottom 3

  • Our Locations
  • Hospital Services
  • Clinics & Specialty Services
  • Patients & Visitors
  • Events & Education
  • Press Releases
  • KVH Legal Information

Footer Bottom 4

Google Translate