Parenting during the Pandemic

The pandemic has presented challenges to parents on many levels, including: home schooling, activities or sports being cancelled, and the lack of socialization. For some parents, the extra family time has been embraced as a gift. It has provided a chance for parents and children to reconnect with more quality time together. Whichever situation applies to you, here are a few parenting tips to help you on this new journey navigating COVID-19.

• Establish and maintain a routine for your family. Create a schedule that everyone can see and place that schedule in the kitchen or an area where family members frequent.  Plan each day so there is a wake-up time, school or work time, chores time, and time for family fun. The daily structure and consistency will be beneficial to the entire family.
• Have appropriate conversations about the pandemic based on the ages of your children to help ease their anxiety. Tell them how to stay healthy and safe, along with modeling those behaviors so that you give your children some helpful tools.
• Give yourself a break.  Parents often have high expectations of themselves, but should acknowledge their own needs as well.  If the situation becomes too overwhelming, telehealth is a great option during the pandemic for you to connect with a therapist.

Parenting is the most rewarding and at the same time, most challenging role you may have. As situations change, work to adapt to them with a positive mindset and use your coping strategies to help you as well. If the situation becomes too much for you, reach out to a counselor, therapist or a hotline for assistance.

Lori Atkinson, Operations Director for The Kim Foundation

Lori Atkinson joined The Kim Foundation in May 2015. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in Middle Level Education. She was an 8^th grade English teacher in the Omaha Public Schools from 1992 – 2000, a stay at home mom for several years, and then started a small non-profit in her husband’s memory during 2010. Lori carries out many duties for The Kim Foundation which includes: scheduling presentations in the community, hosting booths at conferences, managing the Art & Creative Writing Contest, coordinating the School Resource Fair, organizing the Suicide Prevention PSA Contest, assisting with the annual luncheon, and participating in the coalition’s community outreach group. Lori is the proud mom of three children and is actively involved in her church.