Some people may absorb everything that is going on and utilize their time alone to recover, whilst others may require more activity and need to be with others. Even though the current crisis may provide opportunity for personal growth and family bonding, the negatives may surpass these advantages.
The major issues are anxiety, a lack of peer contact, and less options for stress regulation. Children, on the other hand, suffered greatly during the pandemic in numerous ways. Especially among children between the ages of 2 to 5 years old. They are also struggling; we usually believe that not knowing everything that is happening on around us at an early age is a blessing in disguise, but I don’t see it that way.
To begin with, the child is unable to comprehend what has been happening. For them, seeing people putting masks all of a sudden, why there’s no school, no activities, no family gatherings is very unusual. Being locked up at home, not getting enough fresh air, and all the unanswered questions. Their entire world has been turned upside down for no apparent reason. Just imagine how you feel with all the restrictions, and then being challenged with that and not grasping the explanation; I can now say that their mental health is in a serious battle at this point.
School closures have resulted in homeschooling; parenting have been under growing pressure to keep their jobs and companies operating while also caring for their school-aged children at home. Information that is developmentally incorrect or intended for adults can likewise induce worry or misunderstanding in children. It is appropriate to acknowledge some level of anxiety without panicking, as this can lead to taking the required steps to lessen the risk of sickness.
Children’s anxiety can be reduced by teaching them good preventive practices and communicating with them about their concerns. As we all work through adjusting daily schedules, getting creative about how we spend time, processing new information from authorities, and connecting and supporting friends and family members in new ways, this is also a fantastic opportunity for adults to model flexibility, and compassion for children.