How to support your child's resilience

We are almost one year into a global pandemic and parents as well as children feel its consequences weighing heavier on their mental health. Between social isolation and daunting news, we often feel helpless and sad. What gets us through these times is our resilience. Resilience is the ability to overcome serious stress or difficulty, and bounce back stronger than ever. A lot of factors can influence how strong our resilience is and they are often anchored in early childhood. This time of crisis can be an opportunity to build your little one’s resilience. Read on for Dr Sophie's top tips.

A responsive caregiver is the most important factor helping your child through the pandemic

Even in difficult times, children do well when they have stable, supportive adults in their lives. As long as they have a reassuring and loving caregiver, they will come out of this pandemic as strong beings who can tackle almost anything.
 

Stay connected

Lockdown measures help to slow the spread of the virus and protect our health. While we miss our physical contacts, there are ways to have mindful social contacts. Video calls are one way to communicate with friends and family. Painting a picture and mailing it or waving at by-passing people from the window might be another way to stay in touch and overcome the loneliness.
 

Be playful

One of the best ways to build your little one’s resilience is through play. It gives your child the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them in a safe environment. More importantly, it is a great way to have a laugh and relieve stress. Try to go outside as much as possible, as every hour spent outside will support your own and your child’s mental health.

Look after your own mental health

Most importantly, you cannot support your child’s mental health if you are suffering yourself. In a time where our minds are constantly switched on and working from home blurs the line between work and leisure, we often forget to take time to look after ourselves. Get into a routine of taking some time out here and there. It can be half an hour of relaxing on the sofa after the children are in bed and not going straight back to the computer to finish your work. Take a short walk to breathe some fresh air and clear your mind. Check in with a good friend and tell them how you are feeling. 

Don’t forget that there will be an end to this pandemic and it’s now closer than ever. And rest assured that you are not alone in this. The team at Little Tummy are always here for you to support you with any questions you may have around your child’s health and nutrition. Our cold-pressed meals can give you a well deserved break from preparing your little one’s meals at home.