Among the first institutions to be shutdown as the result of the pandemic were our schools. All of a sudden, our children had their normal routines turned upside down. Back in March, I blogged about the risk to kids’ mental health: Mental Health Of Children Is Still A Major Concern During Pandemic Shutdown 05 20.doc. For two months now, children have been kept home from school, trying to learn online, being entertained and worried about the financial and health risks to their parents. Fear and isolation can be major contributors to mental illness. A recent survey (May 2020) by the Angus Reid Institute in Canada showed that children (aged 10 to 17) are starting to display certain concerning attitudes and behaviors when it comes to staying at home. Believe it or not, not only are they bored but many are ready to go back to school, if only to see their friends in person. Realistically, in most provinces and states, the current school year is unfortunately finished.
There is only so much TV/streaming media content and playing video games that kids can take! Texting and telephoning friends and spending time on social media was O.K. at the start, but kids would now rather meet up with their friends and teachers face-to-face. There is little doubt that an increasing degree of boredom and stress is setting in. Online learning is not what it was hoped to be, and is certainly no substitute for classroom instruction and one-on-one expert assistance.
Then there are the parents. For those working from home, it’s difficult and stressful times, especially when caring for toddlers. They are finding that working and home schooling can be very demanding. For those parents who are unemployed, just paying the bills has become a major issue. Kids pick up on their parents’ anxieties. Thankfully, although children are less vulnerable to serious virus-related health issues, the household tension is worse if parents or other household members do become sick with the virus. Just complying with all the additional precautions that must be taken can be a major stressor for kids. After all, it’s not their fault that they can be significant transmitters of the disease.
One cannot envy parenting under these challenging circumstances. Trying to implement a fairly normal and balanced routine in the household is not easy for adults. Imagine what it’s like for kids? Hopefully as more and more facilities are slowly and cautiously opened, families will be able to expand their activities beyond their homes. Exercise and getting outdoors are keys to maintaining one’s mental and physical health. This is especially true for our children.
FROLITICKS 