As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many of us are living with higher anxiety levels and higher awareness of the importance of safety. As CDC guidelines regarding coronavirus have likely become familiar, are you also aware of other pandemic-associated risks and safety best practices for protecting children?
While kids are generally at a much lower risk of developing severe COVID-19 complications or contracting COVID-19 (though they can be asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic spreaders), they face real physical, psychological, and emotional dangers as both a direct and indirect result of the pandemic. Here are 5 major concerns to be aware of.
Domestic Violence
An umbrella term that includes intimate partner abuse, child abuse, and elder abuse, domestic violence is surging worldwide during COVID-19, as many people have been confined to their homes with their abusers.
Child abuse doesn’t stop during a pandemic; it actually gets worse. Without the support system of school, children are now hidden from the caring, watchful eyes of teachers and other adults. If they are in a vulnerable situation, this lack of social support can quickly become dangerous.
In some cases, isolation and abusive or controlling tendencies combine with guns to create a deadly cocktail. A recent report by Twyford Law Office found that only 16 states in the US require the relinquishment of firearms after a domestic violence conviction.
While the world practices social distancing, it’s important to find creative ways to maintain connection with the kids in your life so you can help make sure they’re okay. In the U.S. the National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached at (1-800) 422-4453 or https://www.childhelp.org.
Hunger
Across the United States, many children rely on their schools for the nutrition they need. In the 2014-15 school year, long before COVID-19, over 25.8 million American public school students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. With schools closed, supply chain interruptions, and unemployment on the rise, the number of food-insecure people, including children, is growing an alarming rate.
In many areas, food banks, restaurants, and grocery stores are stepping up to fill the gaps created by the absence of school-provided food. But the situation is precarious. If you are interested in helping and have the means, consider donating to Feeding America, which operates hundreds of local food banks across the country.
Online Exploitation
From Zoombombing to financial scams targeting the elderly, many forms of Internet crime are on the rise during the pandemic. In addition to standard Internet privacy and safety concerns about child sexual exploitation on the Internet (which is also on the rise), there are new online safety issues during COVID-19.
If you are a parent, you personally can do a lot to keep your children safe online, such as teaching them to keep personal information private and checking privacy settings on free online educational resources to minimize data collection. Also be sure to maintain open communication so your kids feel comfortable telling you about who they’re communicating with online and how.
Loneliness & Social Isolation
Human beings are incredibly social creatures, so the social distancing required to help curb the spread of coronavirus goes directly against our nature. With their developing frontal lobes, children generally have a harder time dealing with the effects of social distancing and loneliness than adults. Many children miss seeing their friends at school and visiting extended family members, and depending on their ages, may not fully understand why they can’t do these things like usual.
If you are a parent, try to help your child find creative ways to stay connected to loved ones while practicing social distancing. For younger kids, that might look like setting up a Zoom playdate or driving them to a friend’s drive-up birthday celebration. You may also be able to plan a social distancing hang out with another family, provided everyone is willing to commit to staying at least 6 feet away from those not in their household. For older kids, do your best to keep an open dialogue with them and remind them of the importance of staying socially connected while physically apart.
Stress & Anxiety
All people benefit from having structure in their lives, but routine is crucial for happy and mentally healthy kids. COVID-19 has disrupted routines and normalcy on a massive scale, and this lack of routine is causing increased stress and anxiety for children.
Kids everywhere are adjusting to massive changes like trying to do school online, staying home all the time, not being able to see their friends, and wearing face coverings. In addition, they may be confused about what’s going on, or absorbing their parents’ pandemic-induced stress.
Parents can help their kids by talking to them about the crisis in age-appropriate ways, being sure to emphasize how your family can help rather than the number of people who are dying. Try to avoid having the news on when your kids are around, and do what you can to mitigate your own stress so you can better help your family stay mindful.
The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges, but somehow, we will get through it. Adults have an important responsibility to teach children solidarity and help them navigate the difficulties of this time. If we protect and care for them, perhaps even the youngest among us will be able to learn something from this crisis.