Guide to Social Distancing for Families

We are facing an unprecedented period in Australia where social distancing for families and our resources and ability to cope in such uncertain times will be tested. While we will experience varying challenges as individuals, some common challenges will be faced by children and families with or without enforced lockdowns. 

Some tips to prepare yourselves and your children emotionally. 

For more information on Coronavirus specific to Brisbane, see our guide to the Coronavirus for Brisbane.

Social Distancing and Kids

Almost every child from school age and above will have some understanding about the corona virus pandemic and have heard about social distancing and kids. 

Unfortunately, some children and adolescents may be misinformed of the dangers or risk to them due to being misinformed, mislead during school yard discussions or not understanding media content. Assist them to understand the risks in an age appropriate manner and the reasons for restrictions. When informed and concern is within proportion to the threat, anxiety is less likely to develop, and the intensity of challenging emotions may lessen. Older children or adolescents may be able to understand concepts such as flattening the curve, where younger children need only a basic explanation. 

Monitor the access older children have to media and social media platforms. Social contagion can lead to a rapid increase in anxiety and children and adolescents cannot separate credible information from the overwhelming amount of information they see online. 

Coronavirus is spreading rapidly worldwide, and you can view a coronavirus COVID-19 map here.

Coronavirus and Kids

Most adults will be managing challenging emotions due to the current situation and surrounding uncertainty. When considering Coronavirus and kids, they lack the emotional literacy to be able to name their emotions, or communicate them verbally. 

Consider regularly sitting and discussing how you feel about the current situation. Parents can act as positive role models by normalizing emotions and role modelling healthy ways to cope. There is no correct way to feel at this time and for many, they will experience a mix of challenging emotions that vary in intensity over the coming days and weeks. By allowing your child or adolescent to share their emotions you should increase your ability to work at a cohesive unit, solve problems and avoid behaviours that lead to increased stress or conflict. Let your child drive the conversation, avoid lying to them and provide reassurance. Monitor your own state and be mindful of the children in the vicinity if dealing with personally stressful matters.

Tips for Family Quarantine

Most of us have never been housebound for this length of time. For those with young children a rainy day can seem like it lasts an eternity. Some tips for family quarantine to avoid going stir-crazy

1. Establish some structure and routines from the beginning. This may provide a level of predictability, allow for a range of activities to be incorporated into the day and alleviate conflict over screen time. 
   
2. Consider educational input during the week days if your school has not been able to establish any online classes or provide work. 
   
3. Encourage children to become more involved in household tasks such as meal preparations to fill the additional time they have and also teach some useful skills. 
   
4. Consider fun activities that promote quality family time that you may ordinarily struggle to find the time to do. For example, sorting through old photo albums and creating a family tree. 
   
5. For those us fortunate to have a yard, consider a range of outdoor activities that children may not have experienced. What did we do for fun during our school holidays before video games and the internet? Build a cubby house, make a slip and slide if it is sunny, build a vege patch. If you have time, this may require a visit to the hardware for supplies. 
   
6. Exercise – we may not appreciate how active our children are during the school day and how few “steps” we may get during a day inside. If possible, get outside in the pool, on the trampoline, play sports, or anything else active. If you don’t have a yard, you may need to get creative and create an indoor gym or obstacle courses, stream some Zumba classes, or have dance parties. 
   
7. Be mindful of screen time, however during testing times, don’t feel guilty about letting the children watch frozen again, or sneaking some extra time on their device. While most of us are careful and set limits on screen time, these are unprecedented times. 
   
8. While the government is using terms such as social distancing, consider social connectedness. Can you still maintain contact with family and friends using face time, skype etc. Can children have virtual play dates. Older children and adolescents may stay in touch with various social media platforms or online gaming and this should be recognized as important and not necessarily considered “unhealthy screen time”. 
   
9. Support your partner. While it may be difficult to seek respite as we may not even be allowed to run down to the shop, consider ways to give each other small breaks. Some alone time is important. 
   
10. Be productive. Catch up on things that you have been putting off due to lack or time, get creative. 
    
11. Make memories. While this may be an incredibly challenging time in our lives, it may be the only time when we are locked down from the world and get to spend this amount of quality time with our immediate families. The things you do with this time may be remembered by your children for decades to come.

Related articles:

• Guide to Coronavirus for Brisbane
• Coronavirus Self Assessment Questionnaire
  

Family Quarantine Help

While most of us will face restrictions about what we can do in the coming weeks, we are not isolated from assistance for family quarantine help. 

Please be aware:

1. Many GP’s and specialists will be continuing to work, sometimes however in a limited capacity. Many services will be delivered by Tele-health or video services. Check with your individual providers for more information about how to book appointments. 
   
2. Many allied health professionals such as psychologists will also continue to offer services via Tele-health or video services. For many with existing appointments they will be able to go ahead this way. There may be some ability for new referrals to be taken, however this cannot be guaranteed. 
   
3. Traditional telephone support services such as LifeLine Australia, Kids Help Line, Parent Line and State and Federal health hotlines will continue to run, however wait times may be longer than usual. 
   
4. Rely on your friends and family for support and remember “It’s ok not to be ok at times”.

Help Your Kids Deal with Social Distancing

Talk to your children about a future after COVID-19. Help them cultivate imagined future feelings, so they can deal with their anxiety and emotions now.

Talk to them about how there is a silver lining that will follow this approaching cloud... Tell them stories to encourage them to imagine a future ahead where streams run clear, our air is no longer polluted, and this shared purpose has been the seed of great human innovation. Ask them to imagine how they will feel in a world like that.

As adults, we can also imagine the silver lining. We need to think forward to manage our own stress and anxiety, as this sets the tempo for our children. This 12 months is a breather for our world, where industrial pollution will slow. Whilst doctors, nurses, and you as families, will battle this virus, we also trust that the engineers and scientists of the world will be dedicating their time in isolation to dream, and to plan for a world where our economy is rebooted for a green future.

Coronavirus Testing Brisbane

Coronavirus testing is now widely available. Private pathology labs can test should it be required. Please note Mater Pathology Sherwood collection centre does not do Coronavirus testing for the general public.

Pathology labs that can test for Coronavirus are:



• Mater Pathology Coronavirus Testing Locations Brisbane
• QML Pathology Coronavirus Testing Locations Brisbane
• SNP Coronavirus Requests Page

Coronavirus Doctor Advice

If you need to update prescriptions or have a chronic condition, please book with us soon. If you think you could have Coronavirus please advise us prior to arriving in the clinic so we can help you avoid the need to come to the clinic, or use appropriate precautions if necessary. Some people have been worried that their care will be refused if they tell us prior. Don't worry. You will still receive the care you need.

If you or your child are experiencing anxiety or difficulty coping, our psychologists can provide video counselling.

Book a consultation with Grow Medical today. But be sure to follow the advice above and Phone Ahead if needed!