Just like everything else in 2020, the holiday season will be different this year. A time that can be stressful for some families, will likely be compounded by social distancing and economic hardship. According to CNBC, one in ten children have a parent who is out of work this year, which will likely impact families’ abilities to provide gifts and special celebrations for their children.
As COVID-19 cases rise across the country, there will be more and more families facing grief and loss this holiday season. As primary care providers, helping patients and families develop coping skills and flexibility can strengthen their ability to respond to adverse life events. Encourage families to have conversations early about what the holidays will look like. Help them identify and adapt to safe ways to celebrate and to carry on family traditions. Including children and adolescents in planning and age appropriate decision making can ease their fear of the unknown and offer a sense of control in a chaotic and uneasy time.
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- PBS has ideas and resources for children and families on adapting holiday activities during the pandemic.
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- Childmind.org offers guidance on talking to children about how things are different this year and helping them handle disappointment.
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- The Dougy Center provides information and resources on handling grief in children during the pandemic.
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- The National Alliance for Grieving Children offers linkage to community grief support for children and adolescents throughout Illinois.
