The COVID-19 pandemic remains uncharted territory for border residents of all ages, but its effects are being felt significantly by the region's young people.
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With school interrupted on both sides of the border this year and much of the sporting calendar cancelled, children's routines have been thrown out the window.
Albury psychologist Susette Sowden said boys and girls may experience a rise in anxiety during this time.
"The anxiety may well relate to loss of attachment with friends with whom they interact during their sporting and other activities," Dr Sowden said.
"Providing them with reassurance that they will be seeing their friends again is important.
"It's also helpful to have many constructive distraction activities for children, such as playing board games at home as a family and playing sports in our backyards with them."
Dr Sowden added it's important to be honest with sons and daughters about the challenges we face.
"Children have a capacity to take in information regarding a health crisis better than most people appreciate," she said.
"Children are far more likely to cope well if we as the parents and adults in their lives are coping well.
"This period of our lives will come and it will go.
"What is essential is that they receive fundamental reassurance and continue to enjoy, where they can, an environment offering them safety and security."
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Marg Leddin, head of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus School in Albury-Wodonga, has called for empathy and action to guide young people through these uncertain times.
She pinpoints sleep, nutritious meals, brain stimulating activities, communicating with friends family and schools, and exercise as some of the best ways to help lighten the load felt by families.
"As leaders we never underestimate the resilience of our young people, while being mindful that they are not born with resilience," Ms Leddin said.
"Resilience is built over time as we deal with life experiences.
"The proactive management of student levels of stress and anxiety is foremost in our daily wellbeing structure across the three educational settings."
School sport is still being encouraged across public secondary schools in Wodonga and North East Victoria with state health guidelines allowing staff to continue to offer this outside of areas in lockdown.
"It's essential that young people have social interactions through such avenues as school, sport and other group activities," Ms Leddin said.
The benefits of children participating in sport are all linked according to Ovens and Murray league deputy chair Kim Odewahn.
The long serving board member believes organised physical activity paves the way for improved wellbeing and mental health.
However, many of the areas youngsters will be without junior sport this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent closure of the Victorian-NSW border.
The O and M and Albury-Wodonga Junior Football League were announced as the latest casualties of the pandemic this week.
"Sport includes socialisation and adds to well-being while also allowing them to get outside and exercise, it's a huge circle," Mrs Odewahn said.
"It's really important for their mental health and overall wellbeing, as well as socialisation.
"Especially kids aged from 13 to 19, they need that social element so badly.
"For their mental health and wellbeing, it has a huge impact."
