Overcoming fears, mythology nerds, penguins, and mindfulness
|  | Sunday, August 2, 2020 | | | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY JIM ABERNETHY, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION | | By Rachel Buchholz, KIDS AND FAMILY Editor in Chief
I don’t think my family is the only one still “quarantining” mail or sanitizing groceries, even though the CDC says it’s very unlikely that mail and food plays a significant role in spreading COVID-19. But we also have yet to order takeout; we even disinfect our keys after coming in from the outside.
I know we’re likely overreacting. But these kinds of fears are something we’ve all had since childhood, and something parents understand well in their own children, whether it’s being afraid of the dark or a terror about spiders. (I even had a childhood friend who was scared she’d wash down the bathtub drain like the scrubbing bubbles on TV.)
It’s all normal—until those fears prevent kids from experiencing life. Take a child who’s afraid of sharks, even though global fatalities are only about four a year. “If your kid is afraid of the water, they’re not going to experience all the other things that the oceans have to offer,” says marine biologist Jasmin Graham in a Nat Geo article about helping kids overcome fear of “scary” animals. (Check out the SharkFest schedule on National Geographic for age-appropriate shows that show how awesome these creatures are.)
Throw COVID-19 fears on top of all that. “What kids are telling me is that they are afraid of the unknown,” says Chicago-based clinical psychologist John Duffy.
Experts advise validating those fears, but then patiently helping your child deal with the fear himself. Come up with a plan that gradually brings the child to a comfortable place, and offer frequent encouragement. “Saying things like, ‘You’ve got this!’ or, ‘You’re being so brave!’ can help your child feel more confident,” says clinical psychologist Rachel Busman in this post from the Child Mind Institute.
That’s good advice for kids—and great advice for parents.
If you want to get this newsletter every week, sign up here. If you want your kids to get Nat Geo Kids magazine, subscribe here. For Nat Geo Little Kids, subscribe here. | | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY ITTIPOL NAMPOCHAI / EYEEM, GETTY IMAGES | | Caring kids: Showing kindness isn’t exactly easy to do while social distancing at home. But kids can still express empathy and respect through virtual volunteer opportunities. Or take it outside. Get children outdoors to teach them to respect wildlife with these activities, from bird watching to tree climbing to star gazing. (And you gotta respect some of these animals featured in the Nat Geo Kids book Ick: Delightfully Disgusting Animal Dinners, Dwellings, and Defenses.)
Keeping you healthy: First, take a deep breath. Meditation and mindfulness apps and exercises boomed at the start of the pandemic. Are you using them? Most meditation apps offer short daily recordings to help people relax and find peace, even if just for a few minutes every day—or night. Other people are practicing in groups, over Zoom, or as a family. Take small steps (perhaps starting just three minutes a day), remain consistent, and maintain realistic expectations, suggests Dr. Michael Baime, director of the Penn Program for Mindfulness. Let us know if you or your family has discovered a routine that helps. If you’re super serious about developing these habits, take a look at this comprehensive guide from Massachusetts General Hospital.
Family discussion: We’re entering America’s once-every-four-years presidential election season. While politics isn’t always the best dinnertime companion, a question like this might be interesting around the table: If you were president, what’s the one thing you’d want to do right now? Why?
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 | PHOTOGRAPH BY RUTH A. MUSGRAVE
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| TRY THIS: BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY CYRIL RUOSO, GETTY IMAGES | | Virtual vacations: This summer might be all about the stay-cations, but kids can still “travel” to their favorite holiday destinations. Find beachy videos and dolphin games on our Ocean Hub (with or without Humboldt penguins, above), take a spin on this roller coaster gallery, and check out eight cool pools. Then, make ice pops!
‘Have a rotten day’: When Oscar the Grouch tells you to stay home, you can’t help but smile. “This social distancing thing is kind of a grouch’s dream,” he says in this video, which might require occasional emergency play for restive residents of your home.
It’s all Greek to us: Got a mythology nerd in the family? Check out Greeking Out, a podcast just for kids that brings to life thrilling stories of Jason and the Argonauts, the Minotaur, and other ancient legends. Give it a listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
This newsletter was edited and curated by David Beard and Rachel Buchholz. Have a healthy and a sane (as possible) week ahead! | | | |
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