The Impact of The Pandemic on Children

The pandemic has changed the way children typically grow, learn, play, behave, interact, and manage emotions. Children have been observed to have conduct problems, peer problems, externalizing problems, and general psychological distress. When compared with children who did not exercise, children with psychical activity had lower hyperactivity-inattention and less pro-social behavior problems.

Moreover, from a more emotional perspective, they have a lot going around in their head, and the biggest worry for them is whether or not they will see their friends in school or will they get sick. The joint effect between lifestyle changes and psychosocial stress caused by home confinement perhaps aggravated behavioral problems in children.

In the long run, this can lead to an emotional breakdown among children, and the same may lead to these children resisting to return to school post-lockdown. This can happen primarily because children have lost their pre-lockdown routines and the loss of touch with their peers and mentors. In addition to this, the lockdown-related constraints can have a long-term negative effect on their overall psychological well-being.

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Here's how you can help children cope with Covid-related stress:

Addressing fears Anxiety and emotional depression can be tackled by parents to some extent by addressing fears of children, talking about problems and possible solutions from the child's perspective

Spending time with grandparents Children who have grandparents can decide to spend some quality time with them

Create a routine Parents can maintain some routines even if confined at home. It is always good if parents and children can plan some activities together. Parents should also plan their children's tasks one at a time, involve them in various home activities, educate them about following hygiene habits and social distancing

Play Games Engage in indoor play and creative activities. In addition to these activities, children can be advised to be involved in household chores and understand their social responsibilities. Virtual play dates To keep them in touch with friends and classmates, plan a virtual party and playdates.

Bad behaviors can be redirected and discussed Parents should pay more attention to the emotional well-being of the child. Keep emphasizing Covid-19 measures like wearing a mask, social distancing, and frequent hand washing, as the pandemic is not over yet. Also, children should be encouraged to socialize with their friends and classmates through digital forums under the parent's supervision. (Puja Gupta)

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