MUMBAI: While children have largely been spared severe Covid, the pandemic-induced lockdown changed their life in multiple ways, resulting in more screen time, lesser physical activity and higher irritability, found a city survey.
Conducted ahead of Children’s Day to gauge the emotional and nutritional impact of the pandemic on children, doctors from the three Fortis Hospitals at Mahim, Mulund and Vashi interviewed 7,670 parents.
They found half the parents were worried about their children's reduced attention span, and over a third about their child’s weight gain and unhealthy snacking habits. Only parents of children aged five to 18 were interviewed.
Overall, 95% of the parents interviewed said the pandemic has 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 and found children 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. For instance, the ‘work from home’ culture during the pandemic resulted in parents being in close 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 “clingly” 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. Not surprisingly then, 62% of the parents said their children spent four to six hours every day in front of a gadget. The survey found 57% of the parents said their children watched TV or played video games in their free time.
Over one-third of the parents (39%) said their children had gained weight during the pandemic as they frequently snacked. Pediatrician Jesal Sheth said, “As life limps back to normalcy, we must try to involve our children in physical activities, sports and help them socialize with their friends, but in a safe manner.”
