Some children and teens around the world are dealing with the stress of the pandemic and having a hard time coping. Being quarantine has caused us all to be isolated from our families and friends and research shows that kids and teens react based off of adults around them.

“We try to keep in contact with our family and friends as much as we can and we always try to stay positive,” said MaryAnn DeCambra, a mother of two.

DeCambra also stated that they have been using this time to better themselves by spending more time together as a family, eating healthier, and staying active. 

Research from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows that people should take care of their body to lower their stress levels. For example, you should take deep breaths or stretch to relax your body. Eating healthy, exercise or staying active can also help you rescue stress. 

“We usually do family Zooms together and we will sometimes visit each other as long as it is completely safe,” said DeCambra. “I don’t think that any relationships have changed since the pandemic started, but I do see that we all talk to each other more often as a whole family. This, oddly enough, brought us together.”

In addition to staying healthy, keeping in contact with family is important too, as people should also try to keep in contact with others. This includes your family. Get others opinions, and learn things from them and their experiences, and use that to help your child stay happy and in contact with others outside of the immediate family.

“When the pandemic first started, I wasn’t very scared, because I had known about the virus and its journey from China. My family was very calm about it and just said to stay inside and that we would buy masks soon,” said seventh grader, Caili Dougherty. 

Dougherty stated that she had been following the virus’s journey from China. She stays up-to-date with the news from around the world. Keeping yourself informed on what is happening around you and knowing what to do when in an emergency like this is important says the CDC.

“I’ve found that during the pandemic, I have started to become a bit lazier and haven’t been playing my instrument as much, but other than that, everything is the same,” said Dougherty.

According to the Center of Disease Control, when a child is experiencing changes in their behaviors, interests, or work ethic, these could possibly show that the child is isolating oneself. If a child is isolating oneself it could mean that they feel deprived of something, which is common in children and teens right now during the pandemic. Kids and teens are so used to being around their friends and family almost all the time that they won’t know what to do without them sometimes.

“When I think about how everything has changed, I’m not really sad about it. I have a phone and technology and I’m able to see friends and I keep in contact with my family, so I don’t feel lonely. I also get to spend a lot more time doing the things that I like to do, like art,” said Dougherty.

Today’s society has all of the technological advances that allows us to stay in contact others and be constantly informed about the virus and other news.

“If I go outside, and I see someone without a mask, I immediately walk away and distance myself from them. Even when others are wearing a mask, I distance myself. I may be paranoid, but I’m just trying to stay safe,” said Dougherty. “I feel more safe when I’m [socially distant],” said Dougherty.

According to the CDC, people should always stay informed during any disaster. However, sometimes it’s not good to check the news every day, because sometimes all of the bad news can become too much. 

“I just want to stay safe and for us to develop a cure, or for people to stop acting out and just follow the rules,” said Dougherty.