Children and lockdown

The coronavirus pandemic now seems to have become infinity for all age groups, with children feeling the psychological impact the most. Most cities and towns in Pakistan have been under various forms of lockdown for the past three months. Schools in as many as 188 countries around the world stay closed for months together. The global lockdown is keeping 1.5 billion children away from schools and education. A global survey has revealed that one in four children is living under lockdown. Due to closure of schools as part of social distancing with the aim of preventing the spread of Covid-19, children have been compelled to stay at home.

A report from Peshawar in this newspaper says circumstances produced by the necessity of a prolonged lockdown are seriously impacting children’s psyche. In view of the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus, parents are not allowing children to go out of their homes even for a very short period. As the Covid-19 cases continue to spike in K-P so is the fear associated with the virus increasing among children and adults alike. Children say with schools remaining closed for months they have no interaction with friends, mates and teachers. They have completed all their homework, watched all cartoon movies and have read all books while staying at home. Now they are left with no interesting activity to keep them occupied and entertained. They say they are fed up with living in isolation from society.

Physicians and mental health experts are of the view that the non-stop chatter about the coronavirus and it being a super spreader are only intensifying the atmosphere of fear. This is having a devastating effect on children’s mental health, so adults should avoid mentioning the topic in the presence of children. It’s time the WHO, together with all nations, devised means to help children and adults alike to overcome depression. We should learn to live without society and need help from experts.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2020.

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