Wherever you look, you can definitely see and feel the impact of the pandemic.
In response to tightened lockdowns and logistics restrictions, businesses and industries have been forced to close their doors. Healthcare systems and developing countries struggle to keep afloat when it comes to dealing with the rising number of infections and cases.
Indeed, there is no doubt about the massive impact of COVID-19. And, mostly, a lot of eyes are fixated on the virus’ aftermath to adult lives.
But we also have to remember the reason why we all continuously try to keep this world a safer and habitable place: our children.
They are the ones who are seemingly underrepresented. They have no direct means to voice out how they feel about all the current global chaos. They are the vulnerable members of every community simply because they have relatively fewer years of existence in our society.
So, what do we do?
As parents and caregivers, we hold the innate responsibility in our hands to uphold their rights and to protect them in every manner we can. It is our duty to hear out their sentiments and fears. And we must model to them how we stand by a choice that is influenced by our own research and principles; not just bow down to mandated persuasion.
They are, after all, the future generation of our entire populace.
We can start by assessing and recognising that the impact of COVID-19 on children is very much real, too.
Let’s list them one by one.
Physical impact
Perhaps the most tangible and obvious impact of COVID-19 on children’s lives is its threat to the physical aspect of their health. But unlike everyday pathogens which can run the risk of stunting their growth and development, the COVID-19 virus with all its accompanying rules and regulations, has a very different impact on children’s lives, compared with the very small number of young victims it claims.
The virus’s most significant impact is the harm caused by virtue of its aftermath. Lockdowns and policies to keep children out of school and out of social places, whether temporary or for a longer period of time, limits their space for movement. This is especially difficult for the ones in the younger age range as their bodies need to constantly move and explore the environment they are living in.
In a similar manner, the arrival of COVID-19 has a physical impact on our children, in terms of physiology. Where movements are deployed to challenge parental authority over their child’s vaccination, children’s bodies are exposed to the uncertain effects that accompany each vaccine dose.
Emotional impact
Just like adults, children also bear the emotional impact brought about by the pandemic. The consequences of missing out on socialisation with loved ones cannot be expressed by the sad emojis they get to send between screens and gadgets.
There is a deep sadness in the actual loss of human touch and connection simply because they cannot hug or kiss other family members for fear of spreading infections. And perhaps even worse is having to carry the emotional pressure of getting vaccinated, thinking they need to step up to help adults in this fight.
Mental impact
Finally, as with any other aspect of their lives, children’s mental health also stands to face devastation in the pandemic presence of the coronavirus.
Dealing with the physical and emotional burdens of COVID-19 can take a toll on a child’s mental well-being. The uncertainty of times, school closures, dangers of disease and death, can be too much to process for a mind that has yet to be prepared for the harsh realities of life. The pandemic leaves children with no choice but to deal with its devastating consequences all at the same time, leaving little to no room to take a breather and to cope.