Communicating in COVID
By: Elizabeth Koblenz, LMSW
Over the last 7 months the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many of our routines. One of the bigger changes that we have encountered is the way we communicate with one another and the way in which we think about each plan. Whether it’s a socially distanced walk in the park or meeting up with a friend outside for a coffee, each requires an additional step to think about. Inevitably, this has caused us to change the way we interact with one another, with many people turning to technology to connect with loved ones. While there may be some stressors associated with communicating over technology, we can be thankful that we have the technology in the first place, allowing us to stay connected during this challenging time!
Age has been a determining factor of the way we interact with others during this time. Here are some ways to help encourage your loved ones to communicate with their friends:
Children: Many kids are used to going to school every day, having interactions with friends through playdates, and not having to worry about finding time to connect with friends. Although some children are going into school, interactions between peers has changed. Many children are finding ways to play online games with their friends, so they can still enjoy each other’s company and catch up – just in a different way! As a parent, you can encourage your child to find an online game they can virtually play with a friend, so they can communicate through the portal or even on video. Although many of us cannot see our friends during this time, it is important as a parent to encourage your child to find unique ways to socialize! Of course, boundaries are important in order to allow your child to have a “virtual playdate” without them being on their device all the time.
Teens: Many teens are turning to Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. Teens love to communicate in different ways and can use these apps to express themselves. Many teens talk about how they are only snapchatting or direct messaging their friends. They like to send pictures to show what they are doing on a daily basis to help keep friends in the loop of their day. These apps can be a fun way to connect with each other and share your day-to-day lives with one another. If you are a parent reading this, you may think your teen spends way too much time on social media and may be worried about this. You could use this an opportunity to ask your teen to show you different Instagram posts they are making or show you the different accounts they enjoy following. Once you are inside your teen’s “virtual world”, you can gain a better understanding of why these apps feel so important to them. While communicating over apps can be fun for friends, it is possible that older family members do not communicate in that same way, leading to a great opportunity to schedule a family zoom call or even ask your teen for help in sending a family picture to a loved one.
Young Adults: Young adults and parents have be driven to video calls and good old-fashion phone calls—remember those?! We are lucky to live in a world with so much technology, especially video calls, where you can feel like you are with the person you are talking to. It can be a fun way to show your loved ones something new you got, a new recipe you made or even just to see each other “face-to-face”. If you have a relative that does not have access to video messaging, you can even send them an email to let them know you are thinking of them! If you have a young one at home, encourage them to join you on the calls. Even if they don’t realize it, having your child join you in a conversation with one of your friends can teach them how to talk on the phone and to interact with adults.
Although COVID-19 has changed so much for all of us, we can still find unique ways to communicate and stay connected. To learn more on how to support your child or teen on how to communicate with technology, feel free to reach out