Parenting can be challenging during normal times, but family life has changed drastically during social distancing. But the good news is that children can thrive in an unbelievable variety of settings. Today Dr. Hubert Lee, of CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA, is sharing some tips to decrease parenting stress during this pandemic.
- Make notice of what’s going well. Under these circumstances, it’s easy to focus on all the things that have gone wrong. This can make children more defiant about helping out. Giving them praise and share with them that you appreciate their effort to promote more positive behavior.
- Give proper directions. When you need something to be done, it’s great to only have to ask once. Make this happen by giving proper directions but get close and make eye contact first.
- When you can, don’t react. Sometimes ignoring a minor challenging behavior is the most effective way to move on throughout the day. Or you can describe what you’re seeing and offer some choices.
- Take a step backward. Take notice of what your thoughts sound like or your body feels like right before you react. If you can take a break from a situation that is escalating, you’ll have a much better day.
- Reset and move forward. Unpleasant outbursts can happen to everyone. It can be helpful for parents to offer a brief apology and gently transition into new activities.
- Show affection. Physical comfort is a powerful way to manage stressful occurrences. As much as the amount of time spent with family right now may not make extra handholding or hug automatically appealing, that’s often exactly what children need to manage the emotions that are simmering just below the surface.
We hope this list offers some assurance that you can offer your children exactly what they need to feel safe, supported, and loved. If you are experiencing any problems with your feet, contact Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA, today at (425) 455-0936 to discuss what’s happening.
Stay safe, healthy and in good spirits – we’re all in this together.
