DON’T WASTE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC!

 

DON’T WASTE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC!

Being in the 21^st century, never ever did we think that beyond riots and world war anything could control the human race globally and confine us to our homes in a lockdown? We viewed ourselves to be super progressive and definitely in control, after all, we have reached on Mars in search of life, so solving problems on Earth should be easy!  Well, there were other plans destined and here we are struggling to get out of this pandemic with a full proof vaccination to end the pandemic! This blog discusses the positive impacts on young children of the pandemic,  we all have a list of the negatives, so I keep that aside in this blog.

We usually end up seeing, remembering, and talking about the negative points of any  crisis situation, and in the case of Covid-19 the impact has been huge on mankind as well the overall development of children, but let us delve into the positive side and the interesting turnout that this pandemic brought for us too…

Adults: Many of us have discovered new interests, hobbies, and abilities within us. Some have pursued it further while some are yet thinking about it.

Children: Extra-curricular activities after school have always been on the top list of most parents, the pandemic has saved children of class hopping during this pandemic and given them ample time to play because the best learning in children happens through play! Play is the work of childhood.

Adults: Parents have polished their cooking skills and  most of us are on the verge of becoming chefs…don’t you remember all moms posting on their social media and what’s app updates the yummy dishes they made daily!

Children: Ahaa! Children ate healthy home-cooked food daily. Blessing for all parents as it kept them away from junk food.

Adults: Both parents were working from home. This ended up saving from the traffic-filled traveling and definitely added quality time for ourselves and our family.

Children: Spending quality time with parents had always been a pressing point in most of the families due to the fast-paced city life that we live in. During this pandemic, I believe that children have developed a better rapport with their parents as they spent quality bonding time with each other. I as a parent of a teenager also feel that I understand my teenager much better now and vice versa! I am better equipped to handle the terrible teens as they say 

Let us look at some more crucial areas of development that children have developed during this pandemic in spite of staying at home and attending Virtual school…

1. Impulse Control: I want this and I want it now! This pandemic has taught children that even if they want something right now it may not be possible for their parents to get it due to the lockdown restrictions. Parents’ are also taking that effort to explain it to their child calmly. A skill that develops with time, age, and experiences when they start going to school.

2. Delayed Gratification: Understanding that what I am asking for will be given but at later decided time, the lockdown surely taught this to children when parents said that I know you want to go to the beach or garden or school but we can go only once the pandemic is over.

3. Hygiene and Cleanliness: Wash your hands! Have your bath! Common comments by all parents to their children on a routine basis and a priority area at physical school too. Well, now children have understood that if I don’t keep myself clean, I can be attacked by the virus and thus have become more cautious towards self-hygiene.

4. Technology: We need to understand that technology is here to stay and we cannot keep children away from technology which was the case even before the pandemic. Children need to be monitored to ensure that they watch the right content on the screen that is   interactive and involves them like the virtual school and online activities recommended by the school for an hour or so. So it is not the screen that is bad when watched in moderation  but what is worst is the content children are exposed to which not only hampers their sense of sight but also makes them passive viewers with no cognitive development taking place.

Well, schools came home virtually with rich and interactive content which engages children in developmentally appropriate content on screens. So engagement with the screen was all about learning, interacting with teachers and friends. Most importantly learning did not stop through the appropriate use of technology which is very important as the child’s brain does not understand the pandemic and requires stimulation to grow and develop.

5. Life skills: Life skills in children develop by not going to some class but by doing simple daily tasks for yourself and family at home and while at school which in this pandemic was like watering plants, wearing your own clothes, helping parents to set the dinner table and so on. Children were involved in such activities at home that led to their life skills development.

We need to understand that children due to the pandemic are faced with physical distancing and not much so with social distancing because they have been interacting with family, friends, and teacher virtually thereby building their Social and Communication skills which of course could have been much better with real face to face interactions and learning.

 

However, we need to support children with their Personal, Social, and Emotional development by ensuring:

 

1. A positive home environment during these difficult times in order to keep their self-esteem and confidence intact thereby supporting them to go back in the outside world and interact with confidence.

2.  Avoid scaring children about the virus, it’s an abstract situation they are faced with at an age when they need to explore and learn about themselves and the world around them. Assure them that this virus will go away through stories and for that we need to wear a mask, wash hands, eat healthy food and maintain social distancing. Here is a link to a storybook on Covid-19 that you may tell your child- https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Corona_comic_PGI.pdf

3. Encourage children to have frequent interactions with their family and friends virtually through video calls frequently with minimal adult intervention.

4. Involve them in your daily tasks and give positive encouragement by using words like Bravo, Good job, Superb. It will motivate children and build their confidence.

5. Give them opportunities for physical development through games like hopscotch, skipping, hopping, jumping, and yoga at home daily.

Let me know in the comments box below what positive development have you seen in your child during this pandemic…I would love to read.

 

Ms. Farida Lokhandwala

Educator I Teacher Trainer I Curriculum Developer I Zentaglist

Stay safe, Stay healthy.

 

 

Adults: Many of us have discovered new interests, hobbies and abilities within us. Some have pursued it further while some are yet thinking about it. Children: Extra-curricular activities after school has always been on the top list of most parents, the pandemic has saved children of class hopping during this pandemic and given them ample time to play because the best learning in children happens through play! Play is the work of childhood.