WA’s sudden lockdown came as a shock to most of us – none more so than the thousands of Western Australian school children who were set to return to the classroom the next morning.
While some kids might be thrilled at the prospect of an extra week of ‘school holidays’, others may be disappointed or feel anxious about what the lockdown means for them.
The Kids Research Institute Australia researcher and registered psychologist, Dr Monique Robinson, says parents should keep a close eye on their children this week and beyond.
Coping with disappointment
After a long summer break and the build-up of returning to school, Dr Robinson says children will likely feel a range of emotions about the lockdown. It will help, she says, if parents can focus on the positives of the situation.
“All parents have done so much work to prepare their children for the first day of school and there really wasn’t much time for anyone to prepare for this lockdown,” Dr Robinson says.
“There’s going to be a lot of shock but I think there are ways to scaffold that disappointment.
“We can talk about the positives – getting an extra week of holidays or explaining that when school does go back, it will be extra safe for kids. Just reassure your child that there are systems in place to keep them safe and let them know that everything will be ok.
“Remind your child that we know so much more about this virus now compared to when the pandemic first started, and that we have been through a lockdown before.
“It’s also a good idea to empower your child to do the right thing by handwashing, physical distancing, staying home if they are sick, and wearing a mask for children over 12 years old.”
Dr Robinson says it could be particularly challenging for children starting a milestone school year, such as kindy, pre-primary, the first year of high school, or Year 12.
“You can reassure your kids that their special day of starting ‘big school’ will come and will be just as exciting – it’s just that it has been delayed.”
Lockdown anxiety
Dr Robinson says WA’s relatively low number of cases during the pandemic may have lulled many of us into a false sense of security – including our kids.
“I think in general the anxiety of the situation is something that we can’t do much about – it is very sudden and it’s important for all of us to remember that the pandemic is still going on even though we’ve been so lucky here in Perth,” she says.
“We’ve got a whole lot of systems in place and we knew that it could happen at any time so in a way, we’ve been ready for this.
“It’s important to help your child feel confident in the systems we have in place.”
Warning signs
It is normal for all of us to feel thrown by the sudden lockdown, especially as the situation evolves rapidly.
Dr Robinson says parents should keep a close eye on their child’s moods and behaviour.
“If you notice your kids are a bit quieter than usual, or maybe a bit cheekier or naughty this week, just be aware that they might be feeling a bit anxious or sad about the situation,” she says.
“You can ask open-ended questions like ‘How are you feeling about this?’ or ‘What were you most looking forward to at school?’ to start a conversation with them about how they are feeling.”
Information overload
Watching news coverage about the pandemic and lockdown can be distressing for everyone.
Dr Robinson recommends parents limit their child’s intake of media.
“I think that’s a good idea not just for children but also for adults,” she says.
“There is a lot of ‘doom-scrolling’ going on because we are all waiting for more information. It’s important to take a break from watching and listing to the news if it’s making you or your child more anxious.”
She says it’s also crucial to only get information from trusted sources and not from unverified posts on social media that can often prove inaccurate.
Five days of lockdown?
WA is facing a ‘hard lockdown’ until Friday, however it is unclear what will happen as the week progresses.
Dr Robinson says it is important not to make promises you cannot keep.
“You don’t want any absolutes in this situation because as we all know, things can change very quickly,” she says.
“Don’t promise your child that we will be back to normal by Saturday or they’ll be at school on Monday. We just don’t know that, so it’s really important to be honest, in an age-appropriate way.
“Keep it reassuring and say ‘As far as we know now, this is the plan – but if that changes we will deal with that and we’ll do it together’. Remind them that whatever happens, there are systems in place to keep everyone safe.”
Face masks
This lockdown is the first time face masks have been made mandatory in WA, so for many children it could be a confronting sight.
Masks are not mandatory for children aged 12 and under.
Dr Robinson recommends parents with young children take some simple steps to get their kids used to face masks.
“You might want to wear it around the house, play peek-a-boo or make it fun somehow – just to get them used to it,” she says.
“That will get them accustomed to it so it won’t seem scary when they see people wearing masks in the community.
“If your child is old enough you can explain to them that you’re wearing the mask to keep everyone safe. For very young children, keep it really simple, be positive and try not to cause any additional fear.”
The parental juggle
With schools closed and most day care centres shut to all except the children of essential workers, thousands of parents will be trying to work from home while caring for young children.
Dr Robinson says it will be a difficult juggle but parents should not be too hard on themselves.
“This week has got to be as low-stress as possible,” she says.
“Try to find some positive activities you can do with the kids if time permits.
“It’s a good idea not to be too rigid with the normal rules, so the usual limits on screen time and things like that might need to be loosened, just to get everyone through this week.”
She says it’s also important to create a positive atmosphere in the home.
“Maybe say to your kids, ‘Look, this week we’re going to just have to get through this together,’ and try to make it as positive and low-stress as possible.”
For more resources about talking to your children about Coronavirus, head to our Embrace website.