Lockdown and social distancing have shown the highest rate of success in slowing down the spread of coronavirus but these measures have also impacted the mental health of our children. Deprived of their friends and sometimes extended family members, holed up inside the house, not getting their required dose of outdoors play and frolic, the sudden stop is likely to make them anxious and feel depressed during the COVID-19 circumstances. 

But what is more concerning is that young children may not be able to tell us how they are feeling. They may not understand what they are going through and in some circumstances let out their feelings through tantrums, fussiness, crying, or anger etc. Many a time, kids may feel like they are being punished for no reason.

As parents it is important for us to not only understand the child’s feelings but also identify the few symptoms that prove as red flags for depression and anxiety in kids. These could range from increased irritability, sadness or worry about school and friends, increased tearfulness on small incidents, disturbed sleep and eating patterns, increased headaches and chronic stomach aches, difficulties with attention or concentration or displaying unusual behaviours. 

A long-lasting impact of the lockdown and social distancing might also make them anti-social and self-absorbed to an extent that it might be difficult for them to be their old selves again. Hence, monitoring these kinds of behaviour patterns and noting the changes might help you understand how these children might be feeling. Whenever you spot these behaviours try and open up a conversation with your child and invite them to talk to you without any kind of inhibitions. Understand that talking to you as a parent might be difficult for them, so do not force them to vent out things before you. 

You can start a conversation by saying something that you know might get a positive response from your kid. Saying something like, “I wonder if you are feeling a little sad because you can't see your friends or meet grandpa?” Give them time to respond but do not not give up on checking on them because they are not responding productively. You might want to add a few tasks that you can do together with them in your daily routine while Working from Home. Something as simple as cooking together or planting fruits and veggies in your house yard or small plants for indoors or work on a family art project by going through old photos and so on. 

If you have concerns or are still worried that nothing is helping your child overcome the depression and anxiety, it is advisable for you to reach out to mental health resources or take up remote support via telemedicine.