As families are adjusting to their new daily lives, it is important to keep an eye on your children’s TV and social media usage. While it is important to to stay updated in current events, it is crucial for parents and other caring adults to monitor what children are watching on TV or what they are reading on social media. News stations are constantly covering updates of the pandemic and children with anxiety are more likely to become more anxious and possibly fearful, making it tough for families to adjust to their new routines.
If your child is on social media or watches TV, here are some tips to help ease their anxiety during the pandemic:
- Children who want to stay updated, find developmentally appropriate information for him/her to read or watch. Developmentally inappropriate information will more than likely increase confusion and anxiety for children.
- Ensure that the information your child receives is accurate. If your child says something that is inaccurate, it is important to provide them with factual details.
- Come up with alternatives to watching TV or social media. It is important to focus on the things that we have control over and to find other activities that enhances our emotional well-being.
- Lastly, it is als important that we demonstrate to our kids healthy TV/social media usage by limiting ourselves to watching the news or scrolling through articles on FaceBook.
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