‘It’s up to parents to provide reassurance’: An expert on preparing kids for the long haul of the pandemic

The world is full of so much uncertainty, and having to deal with that as an adult is hard enough without having to prepare you kids for the longterm changes that come with a global pandemic. Yahoo Life Mental Health Contributor Jen Hartstein offers parents tips for helping reassure their kids during this unprecedented time. First Hartstein suggests creating a daily routine that your family sticks to, no matter how different school may look this year. “Routines are really helpful for everybody, and they’re especially helpful for children,” Hartsein says. “Structure helps us navigate and manage our own emotions.” Next, Hartstein says to take talking to your kids about changes as they come. “Get through starting school, then you might have to get through Thanksgiving, then you might have to get through the holidays, but don't necessarily bite off more than you can chew,” she says. “For some kids that's going to amplify their anxiety and their sadness, and it's going to be way too much for them to tolerate.” Hartstein explains that during this difficult time, it's important to validate your children's emotions and not rush to problem solving too soon. "They need to experience their emotions and we want them to be able to express their emotions. Validate it, sit in it with them, be that safe space, and then move forward together.” It's also important for parents to take care of their own emotions as well. Hartstein explains that to be the best parent for your kids, you need to take care of yourself too, and that means giving yourself the time to feel what you're feeling.