Pune: Pediatricians have urged the state government to reopen schools due to behavioral issues children are exhibiting after months of staying at home during the pandemic.
Pramod Jog, a member of the State Pediatric Covid Task Force, said TOI hyperactivity in children had increased and there was no possibility of diverting or channeling their energy after socialization had taken place. was wiped out in many cases during the pandemic.
“We have noticed an increasing incidence of lack of discipline or routine in children since the closure of schools. In addition, there has been an increased use of cell phones and the internet, with issues such as internet gaming addiction, internet addiction increasing. Learning difficulties are getting worse, with some children also reporting sleep problems, school phobia, social anxiety and delayed speech because they have spoken to fewer people in the past 16 to 17 months ” , did he declare.
Many children have been taken away from studies and have spent considerable time on social media and online games. “Absence from school for too long can also worsen the incidence of school phobia and school refusal in some children. Schools should therefore be reopened with adequate Covid precautions, as recently suggested by the Maharashtra Pediatric Covid Task Force, ”Jog added.
Mrudula Phadke, senior adviser, National Health Mission, Unicef, and former vice-chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, said the children had been locked in their homes for months without exposure to the school environment and their peers.
“Outdoor play time has decreased and time spent in front of TV / mobile screens has increased significantly. This led the children to avoid talking to those around them, with some starting to display depressive or violent behavior. The prolonged school closure and lack of socialization also affected eating habits, such as overeating or lack of interest in food, ”she added. There has been a significant digital divide with secondary autistic changes in a few cases, she said.