insideKENT Magazine Issue 101 - September 2020 | Page 96

EDUCATION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
THE IMPACT OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEPTEMBER
BY DARE TO DIFFER
THE IMPACT THAT THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC HAS HAD ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IS STILL
YET TO BE REVEALED. EARLY DATA THAT HAS BEEN COLLECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND
THE EARLY INTERVENTION FOUNDATION HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE IMPACT ON CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES IS LIKELY TO BE PROFOUND BUT, IN REALITY, WE WILL ONLY BEGIN TO FIND
OUT THE TRUE EXTENT WHEN WE TRY AND GET BACK TO NORMAL COME SEPTEMBER.
We all know it has been hard with school closures, strict social distancing measures,
closures of all entertainment and recreational venues; it’s no wonder why our
children and young people may be finding it difficult.
All children and young people react in different ways to stress, bereavement and
shock. You may, as a parent, be asking yourself “How do I know if my child is
struggling?” It's sometimes not as simple as them coming to you. With some
young people you may have seen an instant impact, and you may have witnessed
first-hand how hard it is for them, perhaps feeling as if you were on a roller
coaster of some good days and others not. But for others they may still be
processing the impact of this, and this may lead to difficulties later on.
It’s easy for the media to call it the “new normal” and for councils and government
to expect that we all have to pick up the pieces and just roll with what has just
happened, but the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard, and will continue to be
for a long time to come. For our children and young people this may just be the
tip of the iceberg, and schools and agencies need to be ready to support families
and young people that have not been able to just adjust to the new normal.
We have all experienced, in one form or another, five key losses. These have
been the loss of routine, the loss of structure, the loss of friendship, the loss of
social interaction, and the loss of freedom; and our children may be experiencing,
or have experienced these, in different forms and for some in different levels of
loss - to the point they are coping with, or experiencing, bereavement.
As lockdown measures are relaxed and as we zoom towards September and the
start of the new academic year, more and more Kent families will need strong,
adaptable support to deal with a wider range of problems and issues that getting
back to normality will bring.
As parents we need to be understanding that there will be new challenges that
our children and young people will face, and we have to be ready to act when
we worry or see these signs.
Some key identifiers that your young
person may be finding it hard,
regardless of age:
• Worrying excessively of their own
health or the health of friends or
family members.
• Problems sleeping.
• Disconnecting from friends and other
social circles.
• Loss of appetite.
• Frightened to leave the home.
• Increased arguing and fighting with
siblings or parents.
Even if your child is showing no signs
of anxiety or difficulty you can still
implement these steps to offer comfort
and support:
Establish a new routine - Our
schools and work offered safe routines
whether we liked it or not. Routine
offered safety in times where things
are uncertain. Try structuring your
day with set bed, wake up and meal
times, and plan for activities. There
are lots of benefits of a good routine
not just for your child but for you too!
Encourage your child to keep
in touch - Socialising with their
friends over the phone or via video
calling is essential, not just for keeping
within social circles but for your child’s
mental health.
Give social media and the
news a break - Having the news
on 24/7 may be great for keeping up
with the latest developments, but the
news will very rarely speak of anything
positive. Put something else on and if
you want to catch up do this later
when the kids are in bed. The same
goes for social media. There are lots
and lots of doom and gloom posts that
if you read too much can negativity
affect your mood.
If you are worried about your child or young
person please speak to your GP or school.
They are there to help.
Young Minds provides advice about mental
health and behaviour problems in children
and young people up to the age of 25. You
can call them on the parent and carers helpline
on 0808 802 5544.
For more information on the support
offered across Kent by Dare to Differ
visit www.daretodiffer.org.
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