NURTURING CHILDREN AMID CORONA OUTBREAK

Sandip Gupta

As most of the kids and parents are stuck in their homes for uncertain period of time; this period can be utilized to nurture their kids. Parents have an opportunity to know their kids better, improve their shortcoming, enhance moral values, teach them household activities, explore their psychological state and strengthen bonding. So that children stay engaged along with enhancement in their personality.

Today COVID-19 has become a global threat to the mankind. Irrespective to the level of strength and development of different countries corona has spread all over the world. And it seems as if it is not going to settle sooner. Thousands of people have died, thousands are struggling for their lives and many have recovered too. No precise cure of COVID-19 is identified so far hence one has to depend more or less on their own immunity or some symptoms related treatments. It doesn’t seem that the curative measure will be discovered sooner because it takes months to approve any medicine after undergoing majority of successful trials.

WHO has suggested many preventive measures to protect people from getting COVID-19 like washing hand frequently, maintaining social distance, avoiding crowd etc. For effective implementation thousands of educational institutions, shopping centers, multiplexes, busy streets, tourist destinations etc. are closed. People are instructed to stay at home. Millions of children are home, away from the schools, now. It is not like a normal vacation so that children go out and play or attend some skill building camps and courses. The only thing they can do is to stay in their own premises and maintain strict hygiene routine.

As most of the kids and parents are stuck in their homes for uncertain period of time; this period can be utilized to nurture their kids. Parents have an opportunity to know their kids better, improve their shortcoming, enhance moral values, teach them household activities, explore their psychological state and strengthen bonding. So that children stay engaged along with enhancement in their personality.

Ask your children,” How is everything going in school, with friends and with family members?”

In this fast paced time everyone is running a race to a better life but in between lots of valuable aspects are missed and ignored. One who suffers the most are the children. Admitting your children in a good school, paying for extra classes and extra-curricular training programs, buying them whatever they want doesn’t mean that your parental duty is accomplished well. They might be going through lots of psychological issues resulting from lack of parental time, might be developing substance consumption habit because of bad company, school bullying, child sexual abuse, involvement in illegal cyber activities and the age related issues which children hardly share to their parents out of fear. It’s your duty to build comfortable space between you and your kids, be kind and talk about these issues and deal with it constructively. If you are in chaos that how to solve them then you can seek expert suggestions and lots of online sources are available as well. Remember that you have plenty of time. Make them believe with love and affection that you are with them.

Teach Children Household Activities, Establish Green Habits and Raise Environment Conscious Consumer

Parents can teach children fundamental household activities like basics of cooking, setting book stand, folding laundry, washing dishes, organize their room, bed, toys etc., cleaning and setting table for meal, floor etc. Which is fundamental step to independent living and will also make your kids humble. Each activity should be monitored by parents in case children may create mess out of it.

It is a lot easier to establish a habit in children than to teach them a new habit as they get older. We can establish green habit in children like recycling, which item goes in which bin, keeping light off, turning off water while brushing teeth etc. We can even involve them in gardening activities if it’s indoor and well sanitized. They should also be taught about importance of personal hygiene with reference to the current situation of Corona Spread. Giving them idea about energy efficient appliances will favor raising environmentally conscious consumer.

Creative Activities, Enhancing Moral Values, Improving Mental Health

During Lock down children should be encouraged to engage themselves in creative activities of their interest according to the availability resources. For example if kid enjoys singing; listen to him or her and sing along as well, if your kid enjoys dancing; do the same. In this way you can help your kids a lot with their emotional issues, strengthen bonding and it will have long lasting positive impact on your kid’s mental health. Children can also engage themselves in drawing, handicrafts etc.

You can also involve them in the activities which will help them to become emotionally strong with good moral values like meditation, yoga or reading them inspirational stories etc. which will have deep impact in personality and will keep them self-motivated. They will learn to value, they will learn to respect, they will learn to love and care, they will become humble and compassionate in sum total they will become aa good and responsible human being.

In this way parents can utilize most of the lock down period for nurturing and grooming their kids. This will play vital role in well upbringing of children and will establish strong bond among parents and kids. It is also necessary to clear the perception of your kids regarding Corona Spread which may lead to unnecessary fear and keep them away from the unnecessary rumors. And STAY HOME STAY SAFE.