Rise in Behavioural Problems in Children After Schools Reopened
As COVID-19 lockdown has affected the psychological well-being of children, a majority of them have encountered behavioural problems after schools reopened. Parents should help children to calm down by coping strategies like spending some quality time, listening to calming music, playing, and doing activities that they like.
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In an attempt to curb Covid infection, a nationwide lockdown was imposed that involved restriction in movements. Events and gatherings were cancelled. Shops and recreational facilities were closed. Moreover, educational institutions such as schools and colleges were closed and e-learning was introduced. Besides these restrictions, social distancing was enforced, that is, keeping physical distance from others, including friends and family members. The COVID-19 pandemic massively impacted social interactions and public life. Now, after schools reopened, a majority of children are facing behavioural issues.
Dr Tushar Parikh, Chief Neonatologist and Paediatrician, Motherhood Hospital, Pune said, “A large number of children in all age groups experienced lockdown-related stress. Especially children from 5 to 15 years who were used to go to school are badly affected. Unable to go to school or participate in activities outside the home, children have been having behavioural problems. Children are overwhelmed, encountering problems like conduct disorder (CD) or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)wherein they refuse to obey rules, lack empathy towards others, and lie frequently. Anxiety and Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were seen in children during pandemics. They repeatedly sanitize their hands or other stationeries, fear when someone comes closer or walks without a mask. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is seen as the child is impulsive, hyperactive inattentive, and will crave attention. These unwanted behavioural changes can lead to poor academic performances and affect one’s quality of life.”
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Dr Parikh added, “The grief, anxiety, and depression in children during the pandemic has also entered into classrooms and hallways, resulting in crying, disruptive behaviour in many younger kids, increased violence, and bullying among adolescents. Children have become anxious, stressed, frustrated, irritated, depressed, fussy, aggressive, sad, nervous, angry, hopeless, have mood swings, and have poor self-esteem. Their stress can show up as disruptive behaviour, non-compliance, and tantrums. The death of their loved ones due to Covid shocked them and they stopped interacting and felt lonely. They avoid participating in any family activities, hit, bite nails, argue, blame, shout at their parents, and back answer them. Some children are unable to sleep, feel nauseated, puckish, constipated, complain of stomach pain, and have a poor appetite. They will be anxious if separated from the family, are clingy, do not want to socialize, and fear going to school or anywhere out of the house.”
Dr Pradeep Alate, Paediatrician, Apollo spectra Pune said, “The Covid-19 lockdown impacted the psychological well-being of children. Parents have reported stress and behavioural problems in children. Since children were not being able to play with friends, meet them or go to gardens and parks and that emerged as a challenge during these unprecedented times. There were behavioural problems in children like insecurity, lack of control, irritation, frustration, being hyperactive, violent, aggressive, lonely, traumatized. As schools reopened, children are having a slowdown in all areas of cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development. Try to offer your child the perception of a safe environment and see that they do not fret or panic. Parents should spend more time with their children, which might lead to valuable parent-child interactions. Help children to reconnect with their friends via video calls. Avoid exposure of your child to unnecessary information that can trigger anxious behaviour. Also, suggest minimizing screen time and focusing on outdoor games and family interactions.”
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Parents need to help children calm down. “Children should practise mindfulness, do yoga, focus on the present moment, stretch, relax and connect with family, take a nap, enjoy movies. Parents need to check in with the child often and watch and observe the signs if they are struggling. Children can be given behavioural therapy, medications to ease anxiety, family therapy can help in improving communication and problem-solving skills, cognitive behavioural therapy help the child to control thoughts and behaviour. Social training helps with social skills, such as how to have a conversation or play cooperatively with others. Anger management can help in recognizing the signs of frustration, defuse anger and aggressive behaviour. The best therapy for children is to get back to a pre-covid routine as early as possible. Teachers in the schools should pay attention towards these children and help them sail through, give them much-needed live and warmth, create a safe atmosphere for the children and they will surely be able to overcome behavioural challenges” concluded Dr Parikh.
