Coronavirus anxiety in kids leads to big surge in interest in mindfulness app | ABC News

Making sense of the pandemic is challenging for everyone, but for children, it’s especially hard.

The CEO of not-for-profit Smiling Mind, Addie Wootten, said remote learning and changes in routine can be particularly harmful for children.

“I think we underestimate the impact these big events can have on young children … those changes can throw kids out of kilter in terms of their mental health,” she said.

Kids Helpline reported a surge in calls to its counselling hotline during last summer’s bushfires — the number of calls has surged again during the pandemic.

Tracy Adams, CEO of Kids Helpline operator yourtown, said demand for their services was high.

“Even in this cohort of five to 12 year-olds, we’ve had a 30 per cent increase in counselling contacts,” she said.

The year’s disruptions have prompted many children and parents to look for new ways to cope.

Smiling Mind said its mindfulness app was downloaded more than 180,000 times in April — that’s a 165 per cent increase on last year.

It has meditation programs designed for all ages, including many that can be used with children.

Working mum Sarah Hamilton is juggling three kids aged seven, five and four who are all learning remotely from different institutions.

“I think it’s really hard for the kids in that they’re so used to the routine, so when that changes that’s a little bit uncomfortable for them,” she said.

She is one of many mums using the app to help ease the burden of remote learning on herself, and her kids.

“We did the teddy bear breathing this morning, and getting them to think about all the positive things in their life has been good,” she said.

In teddy bear breathing, a child lies down in a comfortable place and puts a teddy bear on their tummy, watching it as they inhale and exhale.

Smiling Mind has also launched a new digital care pack as part of the Victorian Government’s extra funding for mental health services announced in April.

“They’re designed for kids aged five to 12, and they provide parents and carers with information and guidance in what to look out for, and how to support mental health practices at home,” Dr Wootten said.

Sudden changes in behaviour and sleeplessness are just some of the signs children might be struggling to cope.

No matter what though, Dr Wootten said it was important to be open and honest about the pandemic with our kids.

“We have a natural tendency to want to protect our kids and they try to hide away anything that might worry them but kids are really perceptive, they will pick up on what’s going on around them,” she said.

Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-02/kids-aged-5-12-struggle-with-coronavirus-anxiety-mindfulness-app/12514826

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