Parenting during a pandemic

Parenting can be challenging at the best of times, but parenting during a pandemic had its own unique challenges. Tensions and anxieties may have increased during the pandemic, so it is really important that you, as parents, care for yourselves.

While young people are influenced by many sources including peers, the media and teachers, it is parents generally who have the most significant influence on their behaviour including if and when they drink alcohol. Teaching your child healthy behaviour rather than trying to stop dangerous behaviour by using fear or scare tactics is important.

You are your child’s mirror. They learn from you, at an early age, how to be in tune with or not in tune with their emotions. A child can become infected with happiness from observing good behaviour and have a very positive impression of the world around them. A child can also be infected with unhappiness from observing poor or negative behaviour. The question is: What do you as a parent want your child to learn from you? You model social behaviour for your child including how to celebrate achievements, how to cope with stress, how you manage conflicts and how you relate with others. You teach them about relationships, managing challenges, resilience and embracing opportunities.

You as a parent are the most important person in a young person’s life. To take care of them you first must take care of yourself. You set the tone in your home. Tips for self care:

• Have self compassion-forgive yourself for mistakes.
• Have empathy for self and others.
• Get enough sleep.
• Ask for help when needed.
• Schedule break times for rest and relaxation.
• Engage in an activity you enjoy.
• Adapt if unable to change things.
• Avoid using alcohol to cope.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been a complicated and challenging time for young people. This is compounded when significant adults in their lives are financially and emotionally challenged due to job losses, money worries with the increased cost of living, the illness or death of loved ones etc.  Loss of contact with friends and other family members due to working from home, school and college closures, all impact on “normal” life and lead us all to try and navigate in a world of uncertainty with an unclear future. Resilience is the ability to recover from a bad event or challenge and can be taught at any age. It is about more than bouncing back, it is about coping with and adapting to change, growing and becoming stronger. It is about developing a sense of purpose and having HOPE. The 4 pillars of Resilience are: Being flexible and able to adapt to change, having strong relationships with others, having a sense of purpose and focusing on Hope. Although restrictions have been lifted, young people still need guidance and support during the Covid-19 pandemic:

• Discuss facts about the Covid-19 pandemic with them about how they can stay safe, using scientific based information.
• Emphasise social distancing and encourage compliance with HSE Guidelines.
• Remind them of the exponential exposure to the virus.
• Plan how you can work together to make restrictions easier.
• Have conversations regularly with your teen about alcohol.

You also teach your child about alcohol. What is it you want them to learn? At a young age, especially during the teen years, attitudes to alcohol and drinking habits for the future will be formed. Young people recognise that parents are the most important influence in their lives by the example you set, the rules and boundaries you have in place and by how much freedom you allow them. Research shows if parental monitoring is in place, then teens are much less likely to begin to use alcohol at an early age.¹ Early parental supply of alcohol is associated with increased risks.² There is also evidence that a young person who starts consuming alcohol at 15 years old or younger is four times more likely to have a negative relationship with alcohol later in life.³

Young people need you to talk to them. Research commissioned by Drinkaware (2016) shows that young people see parents as the ones they listen to about alcohol.⁴ By talking to your teen about alcohol you will be empowering them to understand alcohol and its effects and help them to make informed decisions about alcohol in the future.

Young people need to know how alcohol negatively affects the body and mind, why young bodies are unable to cope with alcohol and the impact of alcohol on both the developing brain and the developing liver.

The following tips may help you to have the conversation:

• • Recognise that an alcohol free childhood is the best option.
  • Parental modelling around alcohol is important as is monitoring your child.
  • Start the conversation when something comes up on TV or is shared with you about risky behaviour around alcohol.
  • Highlight the dangers of misusing alcohol and drinking underage, using facts and not opinions. Visit our parent hub
  • Ensure your child knows the rules in your home around alcohol.
  • Reward good behaviour and praise when deserved.
  • Don’t have alcohol on display or easily accessible in your home.
  • Negotiate consequences to implement should rules be broken.
  • Trusting your child is important in order to have a healthy relationship.
  • Discuss the laws in Ireland around young people buying alcohol or consuming it in a public place.

GET IN TOUCH

For information on Drinkaware parent workshops, contact Martha Sweeney, Drinkaware Education Programme Manager. Email: martha@drinkaware.ie, Mobile: 087 919 7253

FOLLOW HSE GUIDANCE TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

• Wash your hands properly and regularly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a bent elbow or tissue when you cough and sneeze. Throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your face, especially eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wear a face covering on public transport, in shops and other indoor settings.
• If you feel unwell, stay at home and follow HSE advice.
• Download the COVID-19 Tracker App now.