Page 11 - ParentsWorld June 2020

offices and suspension of public transport and forced warns that the likes of the rampant coronavirus pandemic
confinement of all urban residents countrywide. hasn’t been experienced for over a century with parents
“With family members forced to remain indoors 24/7, having no precedent to fall back upon to cope with nation-
fear of contracting the virus has been exacerbated by al lockdowns. Atkins believes that in the circumstances, it’s
financial anxiety and stressed inter-personal relationships natural for children to experience anxiety and stress. “In
transmitted through verbal and non-verbal messages. This such an unimaginable situation children are certain to feel
stress manifests in the form of irritability, anger, and frus- anxious and suffer angst. Therefore, it’s quite possible they
tration and usually the most vulnerable family members — will regress to thumb
children and women — bear the brunt,” says Dr. San- sucking, bed wetting and
geetha Mahesh, psychologist and relationship consultant throw temper tantrums.
and founder-director of Psycafe, Chennai. In such moments, par-
Dr. Mahesh believes that children internalise parental ents need to be patient,
fears of the pandemic and associated financial, socio- gentle and kind to
emotional and health anxieties. “Young children may them,” says Atkins
not understand the seriousness of the Covid-19 crisis but In India most middle
witnessing their parents engage in conversations laced with class families, spoilt by
anxiety and fear makes them anxious and insecure. They easy availability of cheap
react by crying, shouting and sulking. In such situations, domestic labour, have
parents need to be calm and positive, assuring children of had to learn to adjust to
their complete love and attention,” advises Mahesh. new realities, apart from
UK-based internationally respected parenting expert appreciating household
and author of the best-seller Parenting Made Easy — How help. Comments Jen-
to Raise Happy Children (and PW columnist), Sue Atkins Dr. Sue Atkins nifer Moses, counsel-

parentsworld • june 2020 11