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With an eye on the relatively lower number of Covid19 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 1800 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 childrenrsquos physical emotional mental and social growth Further 52 per cent of parents believe that their children are experiencing attention deficiencyDr Kersi Chavda Dr Suhas V Prabhu and Dr Vijaykumar ChavadhalldquoThere 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 welladjusted and social human beingsrdquo emphasises Dr Kersi Chavda a psychiatrist at PD Hinduja Hospital in MahimTake it slowItrsquos important for parents to ease young children into their former routines ldquoToday many children sleep late and wake up late as they donrsquot have to commute to school in the mornings Parents must gradually shift their kidsrsquo 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 mdash they will have to learn to wait for their turn for instance and stick to defined study and mealtimesrdquo Dr Chavda explains Safety firstFollowing Covid19 safety precautions including regular handwashing social distancing and maskwearing is a must especially in classrooms ldquoFor 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 addressedrdquo says Dr Suhas V Prabhu a consultant paediatrician at PD Hinduja Hospital and a member of the Government Panel for Covid CareBe vigilantDr Vijaykumar Chavadhal a consultant paediatrician at NuLife Clinic in Andheri adds that children should be screened for any symptoms by both parents and teachers ldquoParents must exercise utmost responsibility in reporting any symptoms as general precautions such as maskwearing 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 agerdquo 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 highrisk category below five years of age with a seasonal flu shot after consultation with their paediatrician he clarifiesFortify their immunityItrsquos important for parents to ensure that their children have a strong gut since 70 to 80 per cent of the bodyrsquos immunity resides here says nutritionist and lifestyle educator Karishma Chawla To do so she recommendsgtgt Minimising sugar and processed foodsgtgt Introducing nutrientdense foods in kidfriendly formats Examples include homemade energy bars millet cookies quinoa pancakes pumpkin fries and pizzas with a jowar bajra almond or vegetable crustgtgt Replacing salt and sugarloaded packaged snacks with jowar puffs or chivda dried fruit or puffed rice flakes