The social isolation and increased screentime brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in children’s lives is revealing its impact in the form of developmental, emotional and behavioural struggles. According to experts in the field of child development, while adults went back to the old normal post-pandemic, children, especially those in their early years, have been left behind without the necessary support and skills to cope with a new social reality. 

According to Dr Sameer Dalwai, member of the State COVID Task Force (Children) and director of New Horizons Child Development Centre, while both young children and adolescents are facing issues, the prevalence is more among children aged below five years. In a period of two years, on an average, three families sought help at his centre daily. Many of the children who sought help are on the autism spectrum; they had missed out on the treatment owing to the lockdown. Many parents were completely unaware of their child’s struggles and were shocked by the diagnosis.