Stop Touching Your Face

/ Mary, Mother of the Light Academy/

Today’s current global situation is unprecedented.  Before “Coronavirus” and “Covid-19” were household names, and prior to social distancing, there was a whole different list of hurdles for parents to overcome. 

Now, as we learn to navigate a world plagued by this global pandemic, there is a new list of high priority concerns for parents to be aware of. One of the most important pieces of advice experts are sharing given the Coronavirus spread is to refrain from touching the face as much as possible.

Easier said than done.  For adults this is hard. For children, this is even harder.  So for parents trying their best to work from home, and watch their children now that schools have been closed, the HuffPost decided to contact a series of psychologists for tips and tricks that will help train your children to stop touching their face.  Here are the highlights: 

1)    Positive Reinforcement:
Possibly even more important than stopping bad behavior is praising good behavior.  Remember to give your child accolades when they’re not touching their face.  At the end of the day, your children want to make you happy.  Reinforcing positive behavior will make them want to reenact this behavior to get more praise.  Try things like stickers, toys, treats or even added screen time as rewards.  A little can go a long way.

2)    Point It Out:
Children are learning how to process this new way of life just like everyone else, so it’s important to point out negative behavior in a non-threatening way.  Explain why they shouldn’t do it. Mindfulness is one of the most valuable tools in psychology. If you remind your child every single time they’re touching their face they will be conditioned to remove their hands from their facial region.  Of course, leading by example and calling out your own bad behaviors also helps.

3)    Replace The Face:
Give them something else to play with!  When kids have their hands free they will be more tempted to touch their faces than when their attention is directed at something else.  This is where fidget spinners could come in handy. 

4)    Education:
If you have a child that is at least three years old a simple explanation and open dialogue could be groundbreaking here.  The concept of germs and how they spread when we touch our face can be extremely helpful for toddlers who might just need a little backstory.  Sometimes reasoning with children gives them a vested interest. Remember, your children are trying to interpret the world around them and understand why good is good and why bad is bad.  They want to be on your side, so sharing this knowledge will not only make them more educated, but could give them a sense of empowerment.

5)    Focus on Handwashing:
If anything is important to remember right now, it’s that we’re all doing the best we can given the information we have available.  We know that it isn’t plausible to think our children will never touch their face – it isn’t even plausible for adults. As an added precaution place more emphasis on handwashing. 

If you have any tips, please tell us in the comments below!