Covid spared kids, but it made them eat more snacks, irritable

Covid spared kids, but it made them eat more snacks, irritable

95% Parents Said Pandemic Impacted Their Kids: Study

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:13.11.2021

While children have largely been spared severe Covid infection, the pandemic-induced lockdown changed their life in multiple ways, resulting in more screen time, lesser physical activity and higher irritability, found a survey in Mumbai.

Conducted ahead of Children’s Day to gauge the emotional and nutritional impact of the pandemic on children, doctors from the three Fortis Hospital at Mahim, Mulund and Vashi interviewed 7,670 parents. They found that half of the parents were worried about their children’s reduced attention span and more than a third about their child’s weight gain and unhealthy snacking habits. Only parents of children in the five to 18 age group were interviewed.

Overall, 95% of the parents interviewed said the pandemic impacted their child’s “physical, emotional and social growth”. A research paper in medical journal JAMA Network, on October 1, underlined a correlation between children’s mental health and their physical activity and screen time. The study surveyed 1,000 school-aged children in the US.

PEEK-A-BOO: Doctors from three Mumbai Hospital had interviewed 7,670 parents

Over 60% of the parents felt their children had become ‘clingy’

It found that children who were engaged in more physical activity and less screen time had better mental health outcomes. The Fortis Hospital survey found the balance between screen time, physical activity and mental health couldn’t be maintained by many. The ‘work from home’ culture resulted in parents being in close physical contact with children, but unable to pay attention to them.

“Parents worked from home, but they were not accessible to their children. We came across cases where the children were locked away in a different room so parents could work. This must have impacted young children’s emotional makeup,” said Dr Sameer Sadawarte.

Six out of 10 children had become agitated and irritated during the lockdown periods. Over 60% of the parents felt their children had become “clingy” and demanded that parents spend time with them.

During the first wave in 2020, the lockdown was so stringent that children were not allowed to go to the playground or even the housing society’s garden to play.

Pediatrician Jesal Sheth said, “Children show more resilience as compared to adults, but the fact that their growth process was disrupted for a long period by physical inactivity is a matter of concern. As life limps back to normalcy, we must try to involve our children in physical activitiesand help them socialize.”