What can I do to help at bedtime while I am isolated from my family during the coronavirus pandemic?
This will depend a little on whether you are isolating within the home or elsewhere. In some ways mom or dad being away at work may be easier for young children to understand than mom or dad being home but hidden away.
Either way, there are ways you can make things easier for everyone. Make sure that the adult caring for your child sticks to your usual bedtime routine. Children notice even small changes so the closer to normal the better. Write out a short time-table with step by step instructions. Just having a familiar routine will be reassuring to your child. While it may be tempting to join your child at bedtime ‘virtually,’ for example by camera phone, this could be difficult if your child gets upset. This will probably be different for every child – some may get upset and others might not. One possible alternative is to pre-record your voice. This could be a favourite bedtime story or song or just signing off and saying ‘night-night see you soon.’
This post was written in the Spring of 2020. Please follow your local guidelines and advice from family health care providers for appropriate, current coronavirus safety measures.
