Managing Interaction with Children in the Home Quarantine In the COVID 19 Pandemic; Qualitative Study with Mothers in Arak City

Introduction: The COVID 19 outbreak had a profound effect on families, especially during the quarantine time. One of the important issues is how to manage the relationship between parents and children in this situation. This study aims to explore how mothers interact with their children in this condition. Methods: This is a qualitative study that was conducted with fifteen mothers in Arak in May 2020. Interviews were conducted in a semi-structured manner and the data were analyzed by thematic analysis. Results: The results showed that the most important concern of parents in-home quarantine conditions are how they interact with their children. The five themes that showed how parents interact with their children are conversation and empathy, literacy and skills, leisure and entertainment, adaptation and relaxation, information management. Conclusions: Based on the results, it can be said that parents have tried to creatively control their children’s anxiety to a large extent, and on the other hand, to meet their leisure needs. These strategies can be analyzed by social work experts and family policymakers.