You probably never thought you would have to explain the word “quarantine” to your children.

Sitting at home last night and hearing the news that all schools in Ontario would be closed for three weeks (to include March break) was certainly something unprecedented.

The absolute worst part though; seeing my 11-year old’s reaction. She has diagnosed anxiety issues, among other mental health concerns and I could visibly see the anxiety skyrocketing. There was fear, there were tears and a huge amount of uncertainty.

I came to work this morning and asked one of our Psychotherapists, Sarah, “What should I say to her?” “How can I reassure in the face of so much fear and uncertainty?”

Sarah spent the morning researching and compiling a list of ways parents can deal with the current situation.

Her first advice, explain what the point of the quarantine is. Sarah suggests talking to your child(ren) about how the quarantine is designed to protect those in the public who have weakened immune systems. It is important that children understand that even if they, or their family members or friends, get sick, they will most likely survive the illness and recover. The problem arises if we have the virus and don’t know it and we pass it on to someone who could become very sick. Our goal is to protect the most vulnerable in our communities while the hospitals and researchers get all the resources and information needed to help those who are most at risk.

When explaining this to your children, remind them that this is an act of compassion to those who need the most help from the medical system.

Here are some tips for families that will be at home for the next few weeks:

1. Keep moving: this is critical to boosting mood. The Down Dog App is free until April 1st and has yoga and other workouts to try.
2. Another way to keep moving is to create an obstacle course in your backyard, being outdoors will also help boost mood and manage anxiety.
3. Puzzles work well for certain people with anxiety and are a good way to spend your time.
4. Consider purchasing workbooks online or at Walmart to keep your kids in some type of school routine, this will help with the transition back to school as well.
5. Homemade science experiments – there are great ideas on Pinterest for easy science experiments for kids and they can be a great distraction at times of stress/anxiety. This is another good site for experiment ideas – http://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/
6. Make costumes from things around the house, let your kids imaginations run wild!
7. Have a fashion show, play music, encourage your kids to have fun and let loose!
8. Cook or bake! There are lots of kid friendly recipes on the internet https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/easy-recipes-for-kids-to-make-by-themselves/
9. Pick up some new – or previously owned – books to read. Engage with your kids after the book, what did they like about it? Who was their favourite character?
10. Stay in touch. An important factor in mental health is feeling connected with others. Connect with friends and family over the phone or Skype. This is especially important for kids who are used to highly social environments.
11. Limit Social Media/News exposure for kids. The constant news cycle is terrible for everyone, even if you don’t have anxiety, and the misinformation out there can create confusion and fear. Limit your child’s time on their devices and monitor what they are looking at. Avoid having the radio or news on in the background too.
12. There are some great games for young kids to play, check out this website for some ideas – https://www.fatherly.com/play/activities/best-indoor-games-for-kids-and-families-coronavirus-quarantine/
13. Think about things that have helped you relax in past stressful situations, find techniques that you can incorporate into your home life.
14. If you are working from home and your children will be home, check out this website for tips to manage work and your kids https://offspring.lifehacker.com/how-to-work-from-home-with-kids-when-youre-under-quaran-1842246965
15. Look up “chickenpox quarantine activities” on Pinterest or the internet.

When looking for information regarding the Coronavirus, stick to trusted sources, such as your local Public Heath website. Avoid news stations, their job is to sensationalize the news for ratings, this can lead to further panic and distress.

Follow the guidelines for staying healthy, and trust that our government, medical professionals, scientists and public health officials are working around the clock to find the most effective treatments and preventative measures for us.

If you are experiencing high levels of anxiety and distress, consider seeking the help of a trained mental health professional.

By Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) Sarah Potvin and Amy Dougley