With parents petitioning the government to reopen schools for younger children, experts discuss how to prepare kids for the classroom
Parents must emphasise the importance of following safety norms. Representation pic
With an eye on the relatively lower number of Covid-19 cases in the city and the fact that most other public spaces including malls, parks and playgrounds have opened again, several parents from across the city have been urging physical schools to be reinstated too. An online petition addressed to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to this effect has garnered 1,800 signatories. Their concerns are not entirely unfounded, though. A recent study conducted with parents of children aged between five and 18 years across Mumbai, from August to October 2021 by Fortis Hospital, found that a staggering 95 per cent of parents believed that the pandemic had impacted their children’s physical, emotional, mental and social growth. Further, 52 per cent of parents believe that their children are experiencing attention deficiency.
Dr Kersi Chavda, Dr Suhas V Prabhu and Dr Vijaykumar Chavadhal
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“There is no question about whether it is a good idea for kids to get back to school. We must remember that there are many children on the other side of the digital divide, and because of the paucity of tablets or smartphones, they find it extremely challenging to cope with online schooling. Primary and junior KG kids must be sociable. In addition to academics, an important takeaway for children from schools is social skills, such as learning to wait for their turn, sharing and teamwork. It is thus imperative for young kids to be together in a group, to grow into well-adjusted and social human beings,” emphasises Dr Kersi Chavda, a psychiatrist at PD Hinduja Hospital in Mahim.
Take it slow
It’s important for parents to ease young children into their former routines. “Today, many children sleep late and wake up late as they don’t have to commute to school in the mornings. Parents must gradually shift their kids’ bedtimes so that they are well rested for their school day. While regularly reminding kids about the importance of social distancing and wearing masks is crucial, parents must also undertake small exercises to prepare their kids to interact in a group setting — they will have to learn to wait for their turn, for instance, and stick to defined study and mealtimes,” Dr Chavda explains.
Safety first
Following Covid-19 safety precautions including regular hand-washing, social distancing and mask-wearing is a must, especially in classrooms. “For children who have comorbidities such as a heart condition, diabetes or an autoimmune disorder, schools are making provisions for online schooling to continue parallelly. Parents must use their discretion and avail of the same if needed. Schools have been informed about the precautions they need to take by the medical taskforce, including what sports can be played and the type of activities that can be undertaken in the classroom. Parents must ensure that the school is following these precautions. We have advised that schools conduct regular meetings with parents so that any lapses can be quickly spotted and addressed,” says Dr Suhas V Prabhu, a consultant paediatrician at PD Hinduja Hospital and a member of the Government Panel for Covid Care.
Be vigilant
Dr Vijaykumar Chavadhal, a consultant paediatrician at NuLife Clinic in Andheri adds that children should be screened for any symptoms by both parents and teachers. “Parents must exercise utmost responsibility in reporting any symptoms as general precautions such as mask-wearing and social distancing are difficult to follow in this age group. Upon their return from school, make sure to sanitise thoroughly. The best way to inculcate these habits is by being a strong example for your children, as they learn more by observation at this age,” he adds. Finally, as the kids will be interacting with each other after a gap of several months, they may initially fall sick more frequently with common respiratory ailments. It is advisable to vaccinate children who are in the high-risk category (below five years of age) with a seasonal flu shot after consultation with their paediatrician, he clarifies.
Fortify their immunity
It’s important for parents to ensure that their children have a strong gut, since 70 to 80 per cent of the body’s immunity resides here, says nutritionist and lifestyle educator Karishma Chawla. To do so, she recommends:
>> Minimising sugar and processed foods
>> Introducing nutrient-dense foods in kid-friendly formats. Examples include homemade energy bars, millet cookies, quinoa pancakes, pumpkin fries, and pizzas with a jowar, bajra, almond or vegetable crust
>> Replacing salt and sugar-loaded packaged snacks with jowar puffs or chivda, dried fruit or puffed rice flakes
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