In a time of uncertainty, a licensed clinical child psychologist says parents should take life day by day while their families are home during the coronavirus outbreak.
Families are finding themselves creating new routines. Parents who typically care for children after work and school are now working and teaching from home.
Licensed psychologist, Dr. Sarah Domoff also teaches as an assistant professor at Central Michigan University. She said parents are now fulfilling full-time roles as employees, teachers and parents.
"There's a feeling of being overwhelmed, not knowing if you're doing enough, how to carry on knowing that there's such a major public health emergency going on," Domoff said. "There has been a complete shift in routine and grappling with adjusting to the new normal."
Domoff said to help with that, parents can make a schedule.
"It tries to resemble the best we can, what life was like before this," Domoff said. "It can be stressful and anxiety provoking so when we get ourselves in routine each day, it gives us some relief and comfort, something to hold onto and some control for what we can do each day."
Domoff said it’s important to have structure for children, but not to get upset if not everything on the schedule gets completed.
"There may be some days where it might be very challenging to do any school based work or activities with their child," she said. "A lot has changed and a lot is being asked of everyone. Try to maintain optimism and positivity if you can't do as much as you wanted to do each day."
Below are the list of resources that Dr. Domoff recommends for parents.
Professor Domoff is featured in Ask the Specialists on WCMU Public TV. The program airs tonight, April 2 at 8:00 p.m., following Governor Whitmer's Town Hall at 7:00pm.
