Be Sure to Include the Children in Family Virtual Meetings

I think that one of the best things that has happened during the COVID19 pandemic is families using virtual meetings to stay in touch with each other. My family started to do that with our extended family every two weeks and it has been a source of joy, bringing us closer together. Planning a virtual meeting is very helpful to make sure you have topics to stir conversations and always remember to include the children.

I view these family virtual meetings as similar to when all the family members get together to share a meal. During those mealtimes, children are all around us, enjoying the meal and often listening to the conversations too and joining in the laughter.

Sometimes, it is challenging to get your children to talk about what is going on in their lives. How do we get them to participate? One of the ways I recommend is to plan ahead of time as to what topics will be discussed. Tell your children about those topics and ask them to think about what they will say. Be sure to ask them to share their thoughts during the virtual meeting.

Since children love to laugh, you can plan on a joke fest. Have each person select and tell a joke about something during the pandemic. Laughter is the best medicine!

It is important that all children feel acknowledged and respected. Siblings can be condemning to each other so establish ground rules ahead of time that put downs and criticisms will not be tolerated. If you see another family member’s child at the virtual meeting but not talking, you can try asking that child a specific question.

The topics to talk about during the virtual meetings are innumerable. Let’s make sure to actively include children in our discussions.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

2 Tim. 1:7 AMP

We are all experiencing the quarantines resulting from the Coronavirus or COVID-19. There is so much news about it, much of which is inaccurate and just scary. Your children are out of school and concerned about what is happening. For Christian parents, it is very important to use information being provided by experts and lace it with pertinent Bible verses. Here is some information to help explain in a comprehendible way about this virus to alleviate fears and anxieties. I rely on several excellent online articles and hope you read them in their entirety for further information.

Experts say, first and foremost, do the research and allay your own anxieties. By doing so, you will prepare yourself with all the facts, not fiction or false assumptions. Speak calmly, armed with your research material. Start the discussion with asking your children what they have heard. So much erroneous information is on social media, so be prepared that your children have heard many frightening things that are totally wrong.

Gear your talk to the developmental age of your youngest child, as by doing so, even your older children will understand. When the older child asks questions, you can also provide age appropriate answers. Alternatively, you can break the children up into age groups.

Explain what should be done as a daily routine and enforce it. Do demonstrations. Properly washing hands, for example, is critical. Demonstrate how they wash their hands. Not touching friends’ hands is also very important – show them how to bump elbows instead.

Focus on being hopeful and confident, not fearful. Share Bible verses, as the one in today’s blog and Psalm 91, to establish that God does not want us to have fear, but to put our trust and confidence in Him and His protection. As Christians, we must be the vessels of faith, courage and truth during this time of turmoil. We are the light of the world! (John 8:12)

National Public Radio created a comic book type story for children to better understand the virus. That comic book is now being used with children all over the world, translated into many different languages, and even a short video was created. This is a very helpful tool for children to learn more.

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