El Paso psychiatrist offers tips for parents to help anxious kids cope with the pandemic
EL PASO, Texas -- May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. It offers a chance to "check in" on emotions that might arise during this uncertain time. Kids can be impacted by the stress and anxiety surrounding the pandemic as well.
One local child and adolescent psychiatrist says the concerns of kids can vary based on their personality and age. Younger kids may be more concerned about their immediate reality. Teens might have more concerns about the larger world.
Dr. Sarah Martin, the Child and Adolescent Division Chief at Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso, says parents who are anxious can trigger more anxiety in their kids.
"As parents, the kids take their cues from us," Dr. Martin said. "They're going to think that's the appropriate thing to do and start worrying, so the calmer that we keep ourselves, the better our kids will do."
Dr. Martin says it's important to be honest with kids who have concerns or questions about the pandemic, but that it's also important to be age-appropriate and to provide simple answers.
"Even the youngest child, even a toddler, can understand parents' anxiety," Dr. Martin said. "They can feel it. They can sense it. So parents who pretend everything is normal, it gives them a sense of unease because they already know something is wrong."
She also recommends keeping children focused on "kid responsibilities" and things they can control, such as homework or chores. Dr. Martin recommends against involving children in concerns over "parent responsibilities," such as fears over paying rent.
Dr. Martin says though many parents may worry about saying or doing the wrong thing, most parents naturally know what it takes to make their child feel better.
