Let's hear from Laurie Anne, our early literacy trainer.
Have you noticed a change in your child's behavior since isolation began? Are your children climbing into your bed at night, saying they have a tummy ache or a headache, not eating as much, expressing anger or being clingy? Are they showing behaviors you thought they grew out of, such as bathroom accidents, sucking their fingers or thumbs, hitting or biting?
These are just some of the normal ways young children respond to anxiety and stress. They don't always have the words to express how they're feeling, so they act out. When our children show these signs, stay calm and name what they're feeling (disappointment, anxiety, anger, frustration). Respond to their questions at a level they understand. Keep to your routines.
Want to know more? Check out these resources:
We addressed How to Talk to Your Children About Coronavirus.
Psychology Today addresses Regression in the Time of Coronavirus, opens a new window.
Regression Could Mean Your Kid Is Stressed About COVID-19, opens a new window from Huffington Post Canada.
The Today Show blog talks about child regression in their post, This Is Why Your Child Is Acting Like a Baby Now, opens a new window.
Times are rough right now, so please remember to give yourself a break, too. If you would like to know more, let's find out together!