Children the hidden victims of Covid-19 Pandemic lockdown

Covid-19 pandemic affects all areas of life. Still, there is no solid clue about the direction of spread. Nations are busy with the plans of the post-pandemic era. Meantime precautions are taken to prevent the second spike. Lockdown started getting some relaxation. Families are children centred. Lockdown even brings stress for children too. With the help of some solid evidence, I am trying to explore the facts.

In general, children are so emotional beings and the power bank of a family. Major decisions are taken in the family are child-centred. They need adequate love and affection. Need freedom for their choices. They need praise and support. The emotional needs of children are important because, when those needs are met, children can experience positive and healthy growth.

Several countries gradually begin lifting their lockdowns, but sill schools remain closed. Almost 1.3 billion children and students are affected worldwide. Still strict social restrictions are likely to remain in place across the globe. This scenario leaves children and youth who are already at risk such as those living in challenging home environments or lacking social support or facing poverty are more vulnerable.

99 per cent of children and young people under 18 worldwide (2.34 billion) live in one of the 186 countries with some form of movement restrictions in place due to COVID-19. Sixty per cent of all children live in one of the 82 countries with a full (7%) or partial (53%) lockdown – accounting for 1.4 billion young lives.

Some positive ways to handle the children during a lockdown:

• Spend as much as time with the child. In a child’s calculation, the formula goes like Time + Attention = Love. Attending the child when he calls, making eye contact when he speaks, and responding to his queries with interest, show that he is important.
• Children require affection: Often smile, hug, kiss, and use caring words. Loving touch and kind words make them feel loved.
• Children need to know that their feelings are accepted, their mistakes are not considered so that their love from the family is unconditional. 
• Children feel respected and valued when their opinions, feelings, and desires are acknowledged. 
• Often praise and appreciate their efforts. Showing approval enhances the self-esteem of a child. 
• Constant support and continues encouragement restore the self-belief and build optimism. 

Try to avoid the following:

• Comparisons
• Criticisms
• Negative phrases
• Yelling at children

Children are active and packed with high energy. During the lockdown, their energy and enthusiasm are limited to just home. It is very much challenging for them and parents as well. Having a little bit of knowledge about the child’s psychology is better before the parents judge their behaviour. Patience and kindness are beautiful features make the parents create a long term remembrance of the lockdown in a positive sense for the children.

Satisfaction

Too difficult to define

Everyone jump into

Purely measured by individual scale

Should not mixed with success

Limit the aspirations

Bring harmony and peace
                                             - Comfort gate

Challenge

"Testing your ability

Forcing to move out of your comfort zone

Bringing out your creativity

Motivate to explore

Shaking your balance

Create a way for great success"
                                            - Comfort gate

Lockdown – A real test for balance inside a home

Covid-19 episode goes so strong. Cases are kept on increasing. Few nations got it controlled but many still having the courageous fight. There is a huge challenge for the Governments to maintain the balance between economy and health. Covid-19 soon be defeated, either in the form of vaccine or by developing natural immunity. Whatever the end, but the undeniable fact is that pandemic already cause enough and more effects on everyone's livelihood.

Since the episode has got emerged under mysterious circumstances, countries were never prepared for it. No correct predictions and precautions did before the pandemic started showing its real face. When there is no vaccine to prevent and proper medicines to cure, Govts had only option to go for lockdown. Still, it is a debatable action in many countries since the effects are unimaginable and potential for more damages.

Lockdown is one among the terms most used during the pandemic. No one knows the exact effect of lockdown until the pandemic episode. As similar as other, the lockdown has both sides. Some families got the chance to enjoy the togetherness. Kids are too happy to have their parents. Enough time for relaxation and hot food. Above all, emotions playing the game. Unfortunately, negative emotions are too stronger than positive.

Many cases are reported as domestic violence. In fact, the special helpline has given for domestic violence. Some are suffocating with strained relationships. Working couples are having more time to interact with each other. There is always a risk at any moment their views, ideas, conversations may turn into contradictory to each other and trigger. Hence handling of emotions playing an important role to keep harmony inside a home.

Balancing points for harmony inside the home:

A Basic factor related to harmony includes some of the higher values like sacrifice and adjustment. These theoretical concepts are difficult practical solutions. Some of the ground level suggestions are given below:

Draw boundaries: During the lockdown, the concept of work from home introduced in all sectors. Thanks to the technology which made it possible. When both partners are working or only one work, it is important to limit the needs of each other. Make a common break time to chat or watch TV or listen to music kind of leisure activities. When one is doing the work and another making noise may create uneasy for another.

Sharing the household routines: Making a list of household would help a lot. Cleaning, food preparation and handling the children are could all be on the list.

Reduce the trigger factor: After deciding to share the responsibilities, it is important to stick on it. Avoiding or trying to evade the responsibilities pave a way for arguments and become a trigger factor to challenge the family equilibrium.

Caring the children: Children are the energy boosters in the family. If the children are in the dependent age then the time should be properly planned. Otherwise in general, always the need for playing with them, involving them in leisure activities are much needed to keep the home environment active and energetic.

Being together: Quality time should be spent together in the family as a unit. There is a topic for argument whether technology unites or divides. Whenever there is free time, social media compel us to be involved with. Playing indoor games, doing exercise together are some of the activities connects and unites all and strengthen the bond.

Accept for self-time: Everyone needs their own space. Understanding this would help the family to maintain the balance. Too much space leads to a lack of communication and a stressful home atmosphere.

Overall, lockdown is the best phase of life to strengthen the bond and togetherness in the family. Plan it wise, be firm and contribute each other, values develop on its own.

Success

Success

"Analyze yourself

Identify your strengths

Control your weaknesses

Club your strengths with your interests

Apply them in societal life

Alter the formulas until gets noticed

Success is yours"

                                                    - Comfort gate

Ambassador of Hope

I want to share my unique experience with you all. I got up in the early morning on 23rd March. As usual, I was busy with my morning routine. As time passes on I felt something different. We all were restricted to come out of our home. Since I was an institutional head, I started getting calls from my subordinates. One thing I noticed, they were talking very seriously and I could make out their level of anxiety.

I came out to my balcony and have witnessed entirely different scenarios. No vehicles on roads, no one was walking on the streets and find some Police officers were seriously monitoring everything. I turned on the TV and non-stopping corona updates were going on in all channels. India started the feeling the heat of Coronavirus or Covid-19.

Yes! Coronavirus affects 212 countries as of now. Our nation also affected badly as like others. Still, there is no exclusive conclusion about the origin of the virus. Whether it is natural or man-made, manipulated in a lab or spread from a market, the vaccine is already there or not yet identified, complete possibility to overcome the pandemic or remains forever kind of million dollars of questions are going on.

As we all know, Our Govt has taken some strenuous steps to prevent this viral attack. Many of us are so anxious about our near future. Some times we feel hopeless. Everyone is worried about the post-Corona era. For everyone I want to tell you something, Don't lose your hope. I am here as an "Ambassador of hope".

I have reasons to validate my statement. In my level of understanding, when we face any kind of threat our emotional stability matters a lot. You may raise a question of how one can remain stable or calm while facing a monstrous level of stress. There is a lot of literature available regarding this. All kind of measures may help you to reduce your stress or calm but "Hope is the only concept shed light and brings bright in life during the time of struggles".

The basic understanding must be strong. This pandemic is an issue is not personalized. It is universal. From America to Africa every of suffers. The anxiety what we experience is the same for everyone in the universe. We are helpless in front of any kind of calamities or pandemics. Try to understand the fact. The fact is I am not alone, but many. Half of our worries waived off.

Try to engage in some productive areas of us. It is better to contribute at our level during this pandemic time rather than simply locked down at home. It may be in the form of active or passive. You can educate the public through social media by your writings, ideas, finding the people in need and help them to find the channel for help. Contributing something to a poor who is struggling to negotiate with hungry is great. This sort of thing makes you feel more satisfied and helping to find the real meaning of life.

Staying at home, killing the time, worrying about future are the symptoms of the psychological victims of the corona. But in a real sense, try to stay at home with positivity, involve in doing meaningful and find ways to help others. Be positive and hopeful. Be the "Ambassador of hope and try to make others also the "Ambassadors of the hope".

"Hope shows the light in the darkness to move forward"