Enhancing emotional well-being of children

PW invited parents of Shiksha Valley School, Dibrugarh (Assam) to share their insights on how they are helping their children remain emotionally strong during the pandemic lockdown

“I believe love, attention, recognition and appreciation are some ingredients that help nourish children’s emotional strength. My adolescent son Kunal (15) needs special counselling to understand and deal with his emotions. I always give him a patient hearing when he expresses his apprehensions about the future and other worries and anxieties, feeling of insecurity etc. I often run him through a critical appreciation of life, its joys and sorrows, successes and failures. In the current pandemic situation, we try to involve him in multiple activities so he remains productively engaged.”
— Dr. Indrani Sengupta, assistant professor, department of education, Manohari Devi Kanoi Girls College, Dibrugarh.

“To keep my daughter Benesha (class IX) from overthinking about the pandemic, I have introduced her to responsible household chores like preparation of meals, gardening, car washing etc. Moreover during our mealtime conversations, she is encouraged to speak her mind on various issues. We give her a patient hearing and reason with her so she is assured that her opinion also matters. This has raised her confidence level. Since we live in a tea estate, we are privileged to take long walks every evening which is very relaxing after a long day of online classes.” — Neelanjana Kaushik, lawyer, Dibrugarh district court.

“In an era of social distancing, isolation, increased exposure to digital screens, less physical play and anxiety about invisible threats, it becomes critical to safeguard our children’s emotional well-being through mindful observation and deep connect. I make it a point to observe my 15-year-old daughter Maanvi (class X), converse with her regularly, listen to her views, exercise together, involve her in household chores among other activities. She is now aware that failure, loss, or rejection are all part of life despite success. I allow her to resolve her own problems so she is better prepared to face life’s challenges.” — Puja Jain, homemaker.

“Tough times are coming in waves and robbing our children of their childhood. What’s worrying is my son Parthiv’s (class VI) emotional health. As is natural with children his age, he is curious to know when he can go out to play again. I reassure him that it’s only a matter of time, and spend as much time as possible playing with him, engaging him in gardening activities and preparing his favourite food to keep him happy. I even allow him to play online games for a short while. But what has elevated his mood appreciably are his two pet rabbits that we brought home during the second wave of the pandemic. They bring an instant smile on his face and keep him super busy 24/7.” — Tanma Mahanta, palliative care consultant, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh.