What We Can Do to Help Ourselves – and Our Children
Various studies have pointed out the negative effects of lockdown on children. But just how has lockdown affected children’s mental health and well-being? Children who have just started school are missing out on a vital part of their education, plus practical skills such as making friends and learning how to take turns and share. Older children and teens are missing their friends, who are increasingly important as children grow up, and the opportunities they’d normally have to spread their wings by going to parties and festivals, or on holiday with friends.
However, there is help out there to improve your well-being, and this blog post directs parents to some of the best articles. You don’t have to face this alone.
Single Parents and Parents of New Babies
Two groups who might be struggling more than most are single parents and parents of newborns. Many parents of newborns feel unsupported and socially isolated, while single parents may have been working from home and home-schooling at the same time, meaning they end up frazzled and stressed, feeling that they’re doing a bad job of both.
Not sure how best to support your child through online learning? If you have a baby or young child, the BBC’s Tiny Happy People website could be for you. If you have older children, check out this list of educational resources.
Many single parents have lost access to their usual childcare, support networks and social networks. Single Parents Wellbeing provide some help and advice. We also agree with this, from 2houses.com, an organisation that supports separated parents: ‘It’s important to remember that this is a major, once-every-hundred-years event, and it’s OK – and totally normal, even – to be struggling. As long as your children are healthy and reasonably happy, you’re doing a fantastic job, and that deserves to be recognised and celebrated.’
So, What Can We Do During Lockdown to Improve Our Well-being?
Have a look at the list below. What appeals to you?
- Physical exercise, from exercising alongside Joe Wicks to a brisk walk round the block.
- Get lost in a good book.
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Reduce screen time – and moderate your media intake.
- Listen to your favourite uplifting music.
- Make sure you still have contact with other people – maybe pick up the phone to call a friend, send an email or even write a letter.
- Be creative! Take up knitting, crocheting, painting, gardening…
- If you’re feeling creative, sign up to the 64 million artists January challenge.
- Action for Happiness produces a calendar each month with small things you can do each day to make yourself happier. Why not try this out?
- And finally, don’t expect too much of yourself. Be kind to yourself.
Although the past year has been hard for so many, there were some upsides for 2020. The pandemic has brought people together, volunteering and helping one another. Many people worked from home, so they saw more of their loved ones. And a study by Global Carbon Brief showed that global CO2 emissions fell by 7 per cent in 2020 thanks to lockdown.
Thanks to medical advances in treating Covid-19, we can be cautiously optimistic that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Soon children will be able to return to school and we can all meet family and friends again. That day can’t come soon enough, we’re sure you agree.
We wish you all a healthy, happy and peaceful new year. Our next blog will be about the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, which takes place from 29–31 January – watch out for it!