While the pandemic has caused even schools to shut, it has lead for parents to teach, inculcate their children with knowledge and learning (be it of a curriculum or day to day life). As parents, it is important to help our kids understand the current crises.

1. Involve them in Household Chores

Utilize this time to teach the kids basic household chores. Explain them the value of cleanliness, the importance of clean and green surroundings especially during the ongoing health crises. Involve them in helping you complete your home task, this shall teach them the feature about "Helping Others"

2. Maintain 'Patience' as a Parent

While it can get difficult to manage household work, work from home and kids simultaneously, it is important to keep patience with kids during this time. It is crucial to know that while you are subjected to this house-arrest, so are the kids. The lockdown has taken away their playground time, interaction and playtime with friends, resulting into the house becoming a playground, thus causing them to become cranky and irritable. 

3. Be a part in their Playtime 

One big thing the lockdown has taken away from the kids is - their outdoor playtime.  As growing children, playtime, running around is important for the physical and mental growth of the children. Therefore during this deprivation, try providing some type of physical activity/game for the children. This shall help them keep occupied, happy and help them not miss their outdoor playing.  

4. Update & Explain them about the Situation

While we always want our kids to be well updated about the current affairs around them, it is our primary responsibility to help them understand and know the correct detail. Help them understand the causes and effects of this pandemic, the precautionary measures to be adopted in fighting against coronavirus. The children would obviously develop anxiety and restlessness being restricted at home for a long time thereby affecting their mental health. Therefore, it becomes important to explain them the importance of the lockdown. 

If your child has missed appearing for his/her 10th or 12th grade exams or competitve exams for their graduation studies, you need to explain and help your child overcome any feeling of anxiety. Many children during this time are fearing about their future. The effect of the pandemic on their education; their aspirations of joining their favourite universities or travelling aborad for studies have come to a "temporary stand-still". Explain them that "this too shall pass", balance out the importance of health over wealth, the severity of the pandemic over everyone's life. 

This is a cruicial time when the mental growth of children (of differnt age groups) could be affected due to various reasons, therefore its almost important that as parents you are always there to protect them and most importantly "TALK TO THEM".