Hi Mummas,
I’m just wanting to find out how isolation has affected your children. I am in Melbourne, so in stage 4 now, but have been isolating since March this year. My son is 11 and I feel has gone into a mild depression. He has lost weight, is hard to get him engaged or interested in anything, his happy moments are few and far between. He is still doing school work remotely but is quite over it. My daughter who is 8 is mostly still her happy go lucky little self but is definitely more emotional and clingy, has put on a little bit of weight and also does the school work but after about 1.5-2 hrs starts to get frustrated and upset. They are missing their family and friends terribly and I wonder how all of this will affect them long term.
Would love to hear the thoughts of other Mums, particularly from Melbourne Metro area, on the effects on your kids please, thank you.
Isolation and kids
Isolation and kids
Posted in:
Kids
1 Replies
How much exercise are you all getting? I’m in Brisbane so different situation, but I found my 13 year old son struggled in the lead up to schools closing back in term 1. I pulled my boys out of school before they officially closed, as my 13 year old is considered high risk due to health issues. He didn’t sleep well, it exacerbated his depression and anxiety (he sees a psychologist regularly), he lacked motivation to do anything and spent the days sitting on his iPad. It clicked in the holidays that he wasn’t active like he usually is. He walks to and from school (with a bus trip added in when with his father), he plays footy/handball/some other physical activity at lunch breaks at school, soccer season was cancelled before it even started. I made him start taking walks around the neighbourhood with me, after the first walk he slept better that night and woke feeling better about everything. When term 2 started with online learning at home we made the effort to get up and out the door by 8am, he was more motivated to get his schoolwork done if we started our day with a walk. If I wasn’t up and ready by 8 he would be at me until I got ready, even if it took all day! He quickly realised how much better he felt about everything if he had that daily walk. Depending on which way we went, we were walking 2.5-5km, usually took about half hour to 45 minutes. I don’t know what your restrictions are around exercise, but are you able to walk around the block everyday? Do you have a backyard that you can walk laps around? You could make it a competition to see who can walk the most laps. Or kick a ball about. Try to get them moving for half hour or so each day. It’s good for all of you! It will all of you a boost in your mental health. Hopefully it will improve your son’s appetite and he’ll regain the weight he’s lost. It will help your daughter maintain her weight, so she doesn’t keep increasing due to lack of physical activity. Good luck!