Every day at 7 PM, I take my little one to the children’s park. “Garden” is the only word she has learnt so far to describe any outdoor activity – be it grocery shopping, visiting a doctor or just having a walk. This does not happen anymore, courtesy of the lockdown in Maharashtra due to the second wave of COVID-19. Last year, this did not matter to me as she was just about six months. Today, she understands play. For many parents, explaining the sudden shutdown of schools and why kids cannot meet their friends is filled with anxiety.
However sad I may be about this situation, my daughter has someone to take care of her, play with her and provide for her. This is not the case with every child. The socially poor and the lower middle class which forms the bulk of our country’s population has faced the brunt of COVID-19. Many parents have been left with unpaid dues, no income, unemployment or any financial support. Remote learning and delayed school re-openings have added to the kids’ woes.
Last year, Sachin Bansal, the former CEO of Flipkart, tweeted about what COVID-19 could have done to him if it were to happen during his childhood. This sums up what many children across the country are going through today.
If stressed finances were not enough, domestic violence and child abuse continue to be on the rise. An NGO reported a 20% increase in the number of newborns getting admitted, pointing to the surge in cases of abandoned children. Did I forget the severe mental and physical health issues kids are already facing? Too big a list.
Among all this, it seems that the second surge is infecting kids more. A study by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics Intensive Care Chapter shows that more than 2,000 cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) among children have been reported across the country.
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Karnataka have witnessed an increase in CVOID-19 cases among children. What now?
Questions we all have
If you were looking for “10 ways to help get kids through COVID-19”, read no further. I do not have the answers. It is not so much the pandemic but the uncertainty it brings along that worries us. I am as confused as you or any other parent. I like every parent am seeking answers to some questions.
Where do we go from here?
Shall we take a long break? Last year, many suggested we give kids a year’s break. Can we extend it to this year too?
Would home-schooling prepare them better for the future?
When do the parks reopen?
Should I let other kids play with my little one?
Will my kid be social at all?
What should I do if my kid gets infected?
Many questions. No answers. If you do, share it with the community.
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