Since we are all parenting in relative isolation, we don’t have as much ability to learn from each other. I can’t tell you how many parents have told me they feel lost. Because many parents feel overwhelmed or confused with the coronavirus news they aren’t sure how to check in with their children about the evolving situation.
When Parents Magazine invited me to write something for them, it inspired me to try to provide an easy to remember strategy for checking in with your child. I called it the COVID check in sandwich. Shine some light on your child, ask open ended questions and share updates, end with reinforcing your child is loved and safe. Check out the piece here.
The strategy could also be adapted to non-coronavirus checkins and is inspired by the outdated management strategy known as the “feedback sandwich” and some positive parenting techniques. Recently I’ve been harping on the fact that making our children feel loved and safe is really our most important work as parents these days. We know this will promote their resilience through this trauma.
If you haven’t read it, I provide a ton of similar strategies for making the most of this difficult time in my book, so learn more about it here.
