The Country School is an independent, coeducational, Pre-K through 8 school founded in 1934.

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Stress & Trauma in the Time of COVID-19

By: Neil Mufson
A very useful but quick read is the article in the New York Times on May 7 entitled “How to Keep Your Children’s Stress From Turning Into Trauma” by Stacey Steinberg, a law professor at the University of Florida. Steinberg reminds us that at times of stress, stress hormones are released into our bodies and these hormonal changes, meant to activate our “fight or flight” response, can in children lead to “acting out, regressing, retreating, or even seeming content.” However, sometimes children’s exposure to stress can lead to trauma.
Steinberg points out that Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, a pediatrician and surgeon general for California, points out that “the COVID-19 pandemic is a ‘perfect storm’ stress to negatively impact children’s mental and physical health and behavior.” She offers several ways for parents to short-circuit their children’s stress from turning into trauma:
  • Watch kids closely — When a child acts in a way that seems inappropriate for the given situation, we need to consider that she is “outside her window for tolerance for stress.” Temper tantrums or bedwetting “might be the only sign that she is facing an internal struggle.”
  • Understand the effects of adversity on children — Kids who have been exposed to other stressful situations in their lives may be at increased risk for struggling now.
 
  • Avoid making assumptions — Adults may think kids are lonely now or missing school. They may instead, like the solitude or like having more time with parents or may like being outside the normal social fray of their developmental level.
  • Find ‘stress busters’ that work for your family — Teach kids what we and they can do to avoid stress and consider developing new rituals in your family around these ‘stress busters.’ Structure, routine, doing things for others, physical activity, and staying connected with family and friends may help.
Helping kids work through stress and avoid trauma are “opportunities for connection,” chances to foster future resilience, and ways to empower children to learn that they are often capable of pushing through stress and anxiety to develop coping and self-soothing skills.
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