Managing misbehavior during COVID-19 lockdown

It is normal that your little one might be scared, bored, or more restless, irritable, or have more tantrums than usual due to having their routine changed by the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. Despite this being a normal reaction, we know that your little one’s changes in behavior are not easy for you!

Learning more about your little one’s needs according to their stage of development can help you develop strategies to support your little one during this time. Here are some tips:

Regardless of your child’s age, try to catch “bad behaviors” early and redirect his or her attention to other activities or positive behaviors. Activities like playing, singing, reading and telling stories can be very effective and fun for you and your little one.

If your little one is between 0 and 12 months, everything is new for him or her and the most important thing is to satisfy their basic needs, allowing them to explore their environment and strengthen their attachment and bond to you. Crying is your little one’s way of communicating needs, so when he cries try to identify if it is because he is hungry, sleepy or stressed by an uncomfortable situation. At this stage, your little one does not understand rules or instructions, so meeting their needs, having physical contact, singing to them and diverting their attention to avoid bad behaviors is most effective.

If your little one is between 1 and 6 years old, he or she will be starting to understand that there are rules and behaviors that are not allowed. Establishing clear routines, rules and consequences is very effective during these years. 

To make this more effective, remember to:

• Always stay calm when your little one is misbehaving (pause 10 seconds before reacting).
• Give your little one the option to change their behavior before your resort to consequences.
• If they don’t change their behavior, never use physical punishment, as that will only cause more bad behavior later on.
• Remember that your own wellness is crucial to being able to support your little one. Try to maintain connections with your family and friends and allow yourself time to rest and have fun to avoid too much stress.
• Finally, don’t forget that your little one imitates and learns from your behavior. The example you set is essential.

Remember to use Afini to access more tips and personalized activities.