17 Caring for Kid's Mental Health During Covid: How Parents Can Help with Dr. Zakia Alavi

https://302.buzz/PM-WhatAreYourThoughts

I have the pleasure of having Dr. Zakia Alavi for the second time (you will hear from her again in 2021!) to talk about a very relevant topic for pediatricians, mental health professionals, and parents – Covid and its effects on children’s mental health. Dr. Alavi is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and an assistant professor at Michigan State University. She teaches medical students how to integrate basic and clinical sciences and provides psychiatric services in Jackson, Michigan to those children who are in most need. Dr. Alavi offers age-specific coping strategies to mitigate the impact Covid on our children’s emotional well-being.

Join me and learn from Dr. Alavi about the ways pediatricians and parents can help children cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[00:01 - 03:51] Opening Segment

• Welcoming today's guest, Dr. Zakia Alavi
• I introduce the topic for this episode

[03:52 - 18:43] Children’s Responses to COVID-19

• Dr. Alavi’s insights on the effects of COVID-19 to 5-year olds and younger
• Parents and caregivers should also be considered
• Her thoughts on the most affected age group of the COVID-19
• Teenage meltdowns to watch out for according to Dr. Alavi

[18:44 - 32:36] Parents’ Routines

• What parents should realize about their routines or lack thereof
• Parents are the children’s personal clocks
• The age group where verbal reassurance has the most impact
• Dr. Alavi’s tips for teenagers that parents should know
• Her reminders for parents in coping with COVID-19

[32:37 - 37:01] The Right Questions to Ask Now

• Dr. Alavi’s insights about mental health issues during COVID-19
• What questions to ask for spouses and children
• Other related issues that should be addressed

[37:02 - 47:49] Closing Segment

• Dr. Alavi’s parting words
• Silver linings in the pandemic
• Educating people about vaccines
• Final Takeaways
• COVID-19’s impact on children of different ages
• Sense of safety for kids under 5 years of age
• Parents’ response to COVID-19
• Children regressions and meltdowns
• Sleep should be addressed for all children
• Routines will go a long way
• Mark the passage of time
• Verbal reassurance for middle schoolers
• Saving grace for teenagers
• Safety from lethal means

Tweetable Quotes:

“As long as the home environment remains safe and their attachment, as well as the figures that they are attached to, remains safe and accessible and available, these younger kids can actually do really well.” - Dr. Zakia Alavi

“Parents are in charge in many ways and now more than ever their self-regulation is how the kids are going to regulate.” - Dr. Zakia Alavi

Resources Mentioned:

• COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit – Early Childhood
• Helping Kids Cope with the Holidays During the Pandemic
• Resources for Helping Kids and Parents Cope Amidst COVID-19
• Parenting in a Pandemic: Tips to Keep the Calm at Home
• Body Keeps The Score