The coronavirus pandemic has upended family life
around the world. Working remotely from home, school closures, social
distancing – it’s a lot to navigate for anyone.

The period of lockdown is as stressful for children as
it is for adults. Managing work from home, home chores along with managing
family can be a difficult task to perform. Months from now, the children will
probably not remember their lockdown routine and activities but will remember
your behaviour and interaction with then during this period.

The beauty of a child’s mind is his curiosity- and it
needs to be nurtured and encouraged to optimize the mental wellbeing of the
child.

“The lifestyle children are being introduced to with
schooling, hobbies & recreation all online during the new normal, is the challenge that is so digitally overwhelming. Yes, physical freedom is
restricted but that needs to be turned into an opportunity, starting with ‘me-time’
with an actual book or painting, music,” Shivli Bembey, Founder, The Wow Life
tells OPOYI.

 She adds,
“Simply find ways of expression with what the child chooses to resonate with
bringing in self-love and joy. Suddenly this gift of time that the whole family
has now is offering a platform to talk and communicate freely. It will help the
child to explore his uniqueness.”

She also tells us that a physical lockdown is not a
mental lockdown. “During these challenging times arises an opportunity for a
child to explore and grow, understand, and define themselves. The real-time
spent with oneself and the family courtesy work from home is a boom. Yes,
digital overload with school & recreation mostly limited to gadgets is
present.”

Shivli Bembey feels that every child is unique so they
do find ways to not only cope but also surprise themselves and others when
encouraged to be creative. “Passion projects are a great way to feel fulfilled
now and also offering hope for the bright future that awaits us all. The child
needs to be heard and spoken to, make this happen, and make it count.”

Parenting during the lockdown can seem quite tricky to
manage, but by keeping a few things can be kept in mind to ease the process.
Here are a few quick tips by Saumya Vatsa, Counselling psychologist, Karma
Centre for Counselling & Well-Being.

Keeping
the social stimulation alive:
Since all school activity
as well interactions are being relayed online, it would be extremely helpful
for the children to participate in fun activities online with their friends
too, such as treasure hunts, puzzles, memory games, etc. Keeping their social
circle active can contribute to their developmental growth.

Setting
routines:
Due to the nature of the lockdown, a lot of children
have been unduly put out of their daily routines. Certain activities can be
made consistent such as breakfast, playtime, lunch and an hour of family time,
break from technology devices. Keep certain zones in the house which are
technology-free which could also help in limiting the screen time for children.

Giving
your child the agency to choose their hobbies:

If your child is at a developmental age, the lockdown might seem like a
situation which could make children feel like they’ve lost control over their
life. Therefore giving your child the agency to choose their hobbies and fun
activities might seem quite empowering to them.

Reinforce
and praise the positive behaviour:
Don’t just praise your
child for general behaviour, be more specific with the reinforcement.

Create
your personal spaces:
Since everybody is locked down under
the same roof, it’s imperative to create personal space for yourself and also
for the children. A personal space could comprise a desk, a tent of blankets,
or a corner in the room with their toys, reading books, and a few treats.
Similarly, for a parent, it could be a desk with your favourite book, a
playlist that helps you calm down, and a few things that help you distress.

Expressing
and teaching:
Remember to articulate and talk about
feelings and emotions in front of your children as well as validate their
feelings. For instance, “I have had a busy day at work so I’m going to practice
breathing for 5 minutes to clear my mind”. This will help them understand
different coping strategies and expand on their own.

Make your mental health a priority: It can be
overwhelming taking care of several things as well as the inevitable stress
about the uncertainty of the virus. Give yourself some time to adapt and learn
according to the new circumstances. Set realistic goals from yourself as a
parent. Parenting can be a rocky road, especially during the pandemic, learning
to replenish your reserves will reflect in your parenting.