SJM_Feature_Learning_to_Adapt_0720_FINAL_Pages 7 / 15 / 20 9 : 58 AM Page 12 Township , has three sons , ages 10 , 7 and SOMETHING TO 3 . She and her husband Dom have had to temper the information based on the TALK ABOUT age ranges . “ We really only told them Addressing the realities of the pandemic with kids of all ages . what was necessary or answered their BY LIZ HUNTER questions when it arose , ” she says . “ Our oldest understands the magnitude of the virus and how people were getting very IN THE THROES OF HER SENIOR YEAR AT BISHOP EUSTACE , Julia Gatelein and her classmates sick from it and dying and our 7 - year - had to deal with the loss of some of life’s most memorable moments . “ They missed old understands to a degree but we’ve everything , but I think she was most sad about missing her senior trip , ” says Julia’s held out on the details that we hear from mom , Kim Gatelein . “ I think there was some hope in the beginning because things social media and the news because that’s were just pushed back , but then when they were canceled , we saw the writing on the something I don’t think boys at their age wall that she would not be going back to school . She said several times , ‘ I didn’t should have to process . It’s too much for realize that day was going to be my last day seeing my friends and teachers together . I me to process at times ! ” would have done things differently . ’ ” Teenagers who are more media - savvy Although Julia is old enough to understand the news surrounding the coronavirus may see an increase in anxiety depending pandemic and the need to slow the spread and keep the community safe , her feelings on where they are getting their news . “ If of sadness are still valid . “ She and the other seniors worked very hard to get where they see things that are sensationalized they got , and she felt it was unfair , ” says Gatelein , of Haddon Heights . “ And then there or that only highlight the negative , parents was the anxiety of daily life , what we could or couldn’t do , if people would be OK . We should talk to them about where the made sure to keep talking about it with her and my 16 - year - old son Jackson . We information is coming from , and it might wanted them to know it was OK to be sad about the things they were missing . ” be time for a break or to turn off social media , ” Berardinelli says . Parents also have to be more observant friends , but parents are also juggling , to ways younger children may express Cherry Hill’s Julie Robinson had to managing schedules and activities , check - anxiety . “ They can’t verbalize so it presents deal with the same anxieties of the ing differently . They might talk about unknown but with younger children , 6 - homework and somehow remaining headaches , tummy aches , unexplained year - old Sadie and 4 - year - old Samantha . calm and reassuring . ” body pain , act withdrawn or become Information had to be simplified some - Children pick up on stress in adults , overly affectionate , ” says Berardinelli . what . which is why Berardinelli says parents “ Sadie learned about coronavirus at school . Her teacher went through hand - washing lessons and she came home and told us about it , ” says Robinson . “ After schools closed , we explained that a lot of people were getting sick , some just had feelings like a cough or flu , but others were getting really sick but we didn’t know who had it . ” As time has passed , Robinson says it’s been hard for Sadie to not see her friends . “ We have since seen her best friend but only outside and she asks me why I won’t let them play inside and why I’m being so serious , ” she says . Remote learning was challenging too . “ I fought with Sadie to stay focused . She would slump and roll on the floor while doing her lessons . ” Robinson says her own anxiety sky - rocketed in those early weeks . “ I felt like I couldn’t eat . Not everyone around us had “ Parents can be a role model in practicing should continue having conversations caught up to how serious this was , so self - care — taking breaks , resting , exercising with their children and check in on their there was a disconnect with how I felt and connecting with family and friends . thoughts . “ Children need simple and hon - and what was happening around me . It We have been using the phrase ‘ social dis - est information . It’s not recommended made me anxious but now it’s just more tancing ’ but really it’s physical distancing to lie or avoid the topic . Take cues from manageable , ” she says . while maintaining social connections . ” them on what they are ready to absorb . “ For parents to have this job of appear - Gatelein says her daughter focused Unnecessary details may confuse or ing calm and providing a sense of control on running and field hockey training as increase their anxiety , and it’s OK if you when they themselves are scared is the an outlet for her mental health . “ She’ll don’t know the answer . If your children hardest thing , ” says Dr . Sheryl Berardinelli , be going to Lehigh University for field are older , you can seek that information senior neuropsychologist at Bancroft . hockey in the fall , so she’s been working out together . ” “ Kids are distance learning , not seeing on drills , staying active . … At night we’ve Kami Reitano , a resident of Washington SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 17 issue 4 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 54 |