The COVID-19 Omicron variant has been rapidly spreading and affecting children, especially those who are being hospitalized. This variant is highly contagious and spreading quickly, which is a serious factor for the families that have a child with cerebral palsy (CP).  

A major concern for parents or caregivers of children who suffer with CP is the COVID-19 pandemic and the new Omicron variant. Families have stopped their extracurricular activities, limited the guests that are welcomed in their home and fear that their lives are never going to become normal again. Most parents are more distressed over the fact that their children won’t be able to live to their full potential. 

Throughout the pandemic, especially now with the second surge of the Omicron variant, children with CP haven’t been able to communicate or gather with other children. They have only attended online school, and in reality, they only leave their house for doctor’s appointments. People fear this is affecting their children’s mental health and sociability. 

It is recommended to continue wearing a mask in any public facility, especially parents that have to go to work, visit the grocery store or run other immediate errands. This will be beneficial to your own health and your child’s when returning home. It is highly valuable to keep the home of someone who suffers CP extremely safe and clean. 

Mental health is a serious concern throughout the pandemic and in particular, children with CP who have been restricted from returning to normal activities due to the new variant . Dr Siambanes has provided helpful tips on improving a child’s mental health of those who suffer from cerebral palsy throughout the pandemic.

• Outside Activities. Going on daily walks, or meeting friends at the park can drastically improve one’s health. Time spent outdoors is vital to a child’s happiness and can instantly boost their mood. It is safe to go outside and wave to friends at the park as long as you continue to follow the regulations of remaining six feet apart.  
• Take breaks. Staying away from phones, computers, tablets and televisions is important. Staring at screens all day can be very detrimental to a child’s mental health. Take time to relax, breathe and meditate to stay positive throughout this time. 
• Keep up with daily care. Make sure to continue staying up to date on your child’s physical care. Dr. Siambanes recommends keeping a physical or digital calendar if they take medicine, have exercises or therapy they need to follow, or have regularly-scheduled doctor’s appointments.
• Eat Healthy. Continuing to eat healthy can become difficult in quarantine or lockdown, but it is a key element in staying healthy because it strengthens your immune system and creates a more balanced mood. 

While these tips are a general guideline to help maintain mental and physical health, each child’s case of CP is unique and should be tailored to the individual. Those who suffer with cerebral palsy all need different medical attention so, if you notice any serious concerns please reach out to your primary care physician. If you have any other questions or concerns contact Children’s Cerebral Palsy today.