D.A.V. PUBLIC SCHOOL,Thane

August 19, 2021

English Department - Vasundhara Lingayat

THOUGHTS OF YOUNG MINDS

COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has brought about a sense of fear and anxiety around the globe. This phenomenon has led to short term as well as long term psychosocial and mental health implications for children. The quality and magnitude of impact on minors is determined by many vulnerability factors like developmental age, educational status, pre-existing mental health condition, being economically underprivileged or being quarantined due to infection or fear of infection.

“Hope is the one thing that

Sometimes keeps us going.”

Looking at the present scenario it’s no wonder that when I asked kids in virtual classes and in our society about what they liked and what they missed most during this pandemic, the responses were wide-ranging and they were heartbreaking.

Of course, they’re missing normalcy: they said they are missing the rush and sound of horns of their school bus, another said he misses samosas at the school canteen. children are missing school, teachers, friends, the half day of chatter, learning, unlearning and finding place among the peers, has shrunk to a tinny-voiced screen. Playground friendships have unraveled. There are no scraped knees this year. No falling off bicycles, dusting themselves off and getting back on. No everyday adventures in the big world. No escape from the grown-ups but most of all, they’re missing the freedom to walk a few steps further, stay out half an hour longer, test newfound strengths and new autonomies upon the world beyond their home. They’ve lost one summer already—no cousins, no eating raw mangoes straight from the tree. As one child put it: “My biggest worry is, when will the disease go away and when will I be able to go to school again?”

But still I appreciate their young minds as now they are coping up with the worse situation and putting in the extra time for art, music, dance. No doubt they’re worried about their family, virtual classes. They’re worried; they miss the world. Yet, the growing hasn’t stopped. And the world is still full of wonder. Yet, just how much of 2020 they’ve really been able to bear.

The lockdown has been rather hectic for them. Online schooling started from last year, but still they have adjusted to this new way of learning. It’s been tough, staring at the screen for long ours. Still it hasn’t been all bad. The fact that they can eat and sleep at any time during the day (excluding during school) has been great.

During the lockdown, one of them said “I did not learn a new skill but instead tried to get better at the things I love. I love music and spent a lot of time on my guitar and at my keyboard. I worked on my song-writing and am trying to produce stuff on my laptop. I should have a full album soon.”

I also got my parents to play Ludo with me and my grandparents to play snakes and ladders. I’ve also upped my skating skills on the terrace. I’m at least glad I get to meet some of my friends over our online classes. We’re allowed a few minutes of chatter before the teaching starts.

Overall, they have found the lockdown has not been very good and they are happy for all the people around them, with whom they got to spend so much time.

Although they don’t usually like hustle and bustle. But still they have to sacrifice many things, the background is serene and silent these days. The routine of the earlier life is missing. But it seems they have to live with the evil for some time and have to readjust their life clock to each situation. But the fact which we cannot ignore is that the team work of school is missing. There is a barrier between teachers and students, which is the screen.

It is very truly said –

Virtually nothing is

Impossible in this world

If you just put your mind

To it and maintain a positive attitude

By- Vasundhara L.