Psycho-Social Effects of the Pandemic in Children

1. What are the challenges faced by the children during the Pandemic?

2. Why do children feel stressed?

3. What are the Psycho-social Effects on children under 3 years old?

4. Psycho-social effects on School going children

5. Psycho-social effects on Adolescents

6. How to Help children cope up with stress?

7. How can parents help children cope up with stress?

8. How can teachers help children cope up with stress?

9. How do Pediatricians help children cope up with stress?

It is natural for any child to feel stressed, anxious, apprehensive and get worried about unnatural circumstances like pandemics similar to an adult.

What are the challenges faced by the children during the Pandemic?

Change in their routine; meeting their peers and friends
Break-in continuity of school and the learning process
Lack of routine health checks
Increased screen time and decreased interaction with others
Missing important events like birthdays, festivals and any family gatherings
Loss of a parent or a family member or a relative due to Covid
Parental loss of job or security
Instability at home

Why do children feel stressed?

In this digital era, children have access to information through various platforms including social media, news etc which can lead to stress. This stress can be enhanced when they are not allowed to go out, meet their friends, attend school and more so while the parents are themselves stressed and display it.

What are the Psycho-social Effects on children under 3 years old?

Children under 3

Reduced interactiveness and delayed development of speech
Depression – prefer to stay alone
Anger and Hyperactivity
Separation anxiety while the parents are in isolation/quarantine
Clinging and excessive dependence
Fear of excessive sadness

School going children

Anger and hyperactivity due to missing their routine and lack of physical interaction with peers
Violence is either due to excessive screen time or watching violence and/or abuse of any nature at home
Unexplained abnormal behaviour due to boredom or excessive time on mobile phones
Anxiety due to lack of certainty
The stigma of the disease
Sleep disturbances
Nightmares, being withdrawn

Adolescents

Anger
Conflicts
Anxiety to lack of certainty about exams and their future
Nightmares
Insomnia
Panic attacks

How to Help children cope up with stress?

Staying calm, and listening to their concerns, providing comfort and reassurance.

How can parents help children cope up with stress?

The main role and responsibility of parents is to provide and nurture a safe, secure and healthy environment where they can be themselves and develop to their full potential
To spend as much time as possible with the kids to reduce the anxiety
To stay calm and composed and avoid verbal, physical abuse or violence at home even with other family members
To disclose the right information at the right time in an age-appropriate terminology
Involve the kids in daily chores based on their age
Have a creative time for arts and crafts and reduce the screen time
Be a role model for your kids
Practice family pot lunches or dinners
Keep gadgets away from the dining table
Monitor what your child watches on TV/screen
Remember all emotions are valid; don’t brush them off or negate them altogether
Fix sleep time. Maintain sleep hygiene

How can teachers help children cope up with stress?

Providing correct, appropriate knowledge
Quell the myths and dis-beliefs
Identify any abnormal behaviour whilst in the class like lack of attentiveness or hyperactivity
Give small, plausible breaks in the screen time while in the class
Encourage non-academic activities while in the class
Regular interaction with parents