Home confinement triggers anxiety, sleep disorders among kids

BHUBANESWAR: The easing of the lockdown has had very little impact on the lives of children. For over eight months now, most of them continue to be confined to their homes, with schools shut, outings limited and parents fearful of allowing them outdoors.
Children have now become demanding, clingy, bored, irritable, angry and fearful. “Case studies have revealed that many are unable to sleep properly. They fear losing their grandparents, parents and dear ones to Covid,” said Sangeeta Rath, a psychologist.
In the initial days of the lockdown, it was merely the boredom of being confined that made them irritable and obstinate. Now, with the situation unlikely to change any time soon, children have become more distressed. Take the example of eight-year-old Ram Ratan Purohit of St. Vincent Convent School, Berhampur, who has now become addicted to online games.
“Even when the lockdown was eased, he was reluctant to go out and play. Earlier, he used to play late into the evening after school,” said his mother Sangeeta Mahapatra. The boy’s addiction to video games has led to eye strain and lack of interest in studies, said Sangeeta, who has decided to keep Ram home till he is vaccinated.
Psychologist Jasobant Narayan Singhlal agrees that the ability to learn is deteriorating in some children. “This is being manifested in many ways, especially by a decrease in retention and curiosity. Not many kids enjoyed studying in the first place. This has been worsened with home confinement,” said Singhlal. The problem is more acute among single children than those who have siblings.
Ten-year-old Aadyasa Mahakur, a Class IV student of Kendriya Vidyalaya-IV, Bhubaneswar, missed sporting activities and learning at school. “Although she is not a problem child, she is bored at home. Now, the television and the cellphone are her main source of entertainment,” said her mother, Rina Mahakur.
Children have also got completely disconnected from relatives and from fun activities like outings. They are always with their parents, who cannot substitute friends. “Parents are also in a difficult situation as they have to manage work and housework without help. Sometimes, this is leading to arguments that have an impact on the child. Also, there is displacement of anger from parents to children. Lower middle-class families are also undergoing financial hardship, affecting the life and nutrition of children,” said Rath.
In such a situation, Singhlal said parents should encourage kids to take up constructive activities like music, dance and painting. Rath suggests engaging children in physical activity as it reduces anxiety, stress and boredom. “Parents should engage them in gardening, which is a very constructive activity and keeps children close to nature. Planting a sapling in a pot or giving children space to experiment in the garden will be of great help. Besides, they can be engaged in reading humorous books. They need to have a routine as Covid-19 is a long-term situation,” Rath said.
Swapna Subhalaxmi Biswal has engaged her nine-year-old son, Thakur Rajbeer Das, a Class IV student of Mothers Public School, Bhubaneswar, in reading, cooking and watching mythological serials. “Initially, he was aggressive, lonely and angry. But with online classes and extra engagements, he hardly has any spare time now,” said Biswal, a researcher.
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