The Learning Resource Centre located in the Hall of Residence has a deserted look since children stopped coming for the last three months following the outbreak of COVID 19 pandemic.
What is a space without children for whom it is designed!
Since Liya and Rainu from the department started the on-the line meeting with parents and children last week, there is a regular meeting with some children and their parents.
We feel at a loss as children below ten years are house bound due to the restrictions on their movements.
A conversation with one family made us aware of the consequences of this prolonged home confinement of children. Their child who need tricycling exercise to improve the lower limb muscle strength cannot do so in the flat complex as there is restriction on children using the common facilities in the housing complex. This two year child looks at the children's park and cries! This happens almost every day.
Most young children do not understand a lot about a pandemic and the restrictions imposed due to it. They feel denied of opportunities! They turn to parents in anger and distress. Parents too are helpless.
Another parent told me on phone the difficulty to make their their three years old son wear mask when visitors come home.
A seven years old child resents sitting before the computer to join in for on-line classes. She asks every day, 'Why don't you let me go to school'! She feels that her parents are stopping her from going to school because she did not behave well in the school. Every effort of the parents to stop her from thinking badly about herself has not helped. She attributes the denial of going to school as a punishment for her bad behaviour.
I feel with parents and children who feel suffocated by the restrictions. It looks like those who decide such measures do not propose alternatives to keep childhood colourful!
There are alternatives. The MOSC students community organised on-line art and music competitions during this season. I have had feed back of encouragement through this activity.
The schools can think of alternatives to keep children encouraged and culturally occupied!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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