Children of The Pandemic

New Normal-A Challenge

Even the infection ratio of the Covid-19 is lower for the kids in contrast to other age groups but the mental and emotional damages are on the opposite side. Children are the brave warriors who are facing the pandemic without really knowing what they are up against and it is not only the Covid-19 but the fight against fear and emotions is more to worry about them. Most countries had discontinued the schools at the start of the pandemic that leads the kids to be homebound, which was quite a unique thing for them at the start.

Gradually children considered these holidays something out of the context and they began to miss the school routine and their mates. Although the majority of the schools started online classes that were not the replacement for the original school environment for the kids.

kids are showing emotional and behavioral changes in response to this New Normal Pandemic Life.

The elders must keep an eye on the kids and do ensure to provide the kid’s better environment to fight against this pandemic. Kids look to their elders and respond to how they are responding to the situation. Therefore the elders need to show strength and ensure the children feel the same.

In one study out of China, published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers in Hubei province, where the pandemic originated, examined a sample group of 2,330 schoolchildren for signs of emotional distress. The kids had been locked down for what, to quarantine-weary Americans, likely seems like a relatively short period–an average of 33.7 days. Even after that single month, 22.6% of them reported depressive symptoms and 18.9% were experiencing anxiety. (Times)

Discussion — A Way to Go.

It is observed that families who talked to their kids about the pandemics like 9/11, Katrina, Earth Quake In China, and Covid-19 usually had better mental and emotional health of their children as compared to the families who were reluctant to discuss the same with their children. Therefore, try to give confidence to the children and have a discussion with them according to their age.

Use Technology to Get Connected.

Reaching out to your loved ones is always been important for the development of healthy emotions. However, in this time of pandemic try to use technology to have better and frequent contact with your loved ones as the physical contact is very much low as compared to pre-pandemic times. Children do not feel abandoned by the contact and they must have this gap filled by technology to get connected.

Explore Hobbies

Do not let the children obsessed with technology in these times and do not forget the importance of the break, take a break from social media. Spend a good time with the kids and have healthy discussions with them to have a good emotional balance. Once kids detach from social media let them try some hobbies, allow them to learn something new, read some books, run some piano or other instruments to have their mind refreshed.

Manage the Feelings

Try to comfort the fears of the children by asking them what they think about the pandemic. learn their questions and their worries. Always applaud their concerns and questions and try to calm them by having proper answers by inducing them to follow the CDC’s guidelines.

Discipline Routine

Children are thrown off from their routine due to pandemics. Therefore, it is important to instill another daily routine as per the new order. Let the children draft their daily routine with the help of the elders to have the confidence and sense of the ownership of that routine being the developer. But obviously, a parent will look after that routine to be drafted in a manner that will be helpful for the kids.

Conclusion

This New Normal is impacting the children to how many extents? it will be known once the pandemic gets under control. No one has immunity for the pandemics and quarantine kind of things let alone the kids. Children are very much lucky to face a very less infection rate but on the other hand, they have been shaken very badly and without any discrimination. Kids all around the globe are facing these hard times being isolated from their routine lives of schools and friends. Therefore, the need of the hour is to put an extra effort to safeguard the mental and emotional health of your kids of the pandemic. It can be done by paying special devotion towards children and taking maximum effort to soothe the kids.