Multiple pandemic-related threats to children’s well-being

Among summer’s postcard-perfect shots are merry children frolicking in playgrounds, amusement parks or beaches. Sadly, due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, schools and public spaces have been shut down for months in an effort to curtail the spread of the virus. According to a report published by UNICEF in April, the pandemic has caused 99 percent of children across the globe to live with some form of pandemic-related movement restrictions. Furthermore, the International Monetary Fund has forecast that job and income losses will increase the number of households facing extreme poverty — estimated at 84 to 132 million people, approximately half of whom are children. The compound effects of economic downturns and lockdowns are causing children to experience undue distress, which could provide a warning of future mental health problems.

Adverse childhood experiences are defined as traumatic events that occur before the age of 18, such as domestic violence, neglect, substance abuse, food insecurity, and parental mental illness. Research informs us that adverse childhood experiences can have negative and long-term effects on people’s physical health, well-being, and life outcomes. For example, these experiences increase the likelihood of suffering from chronic diseases — such as cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, asthma, and heart disease — and engaging in risky behaviors, such as self-injury, substance abuse and even suicide. Furthermore, the accumulation of prolonged stress leads to toxic stress, which can affect brain development, attention span, learning, decision-making, and relationship-building. In adulthood, people can suffer from depression and struggles with finances, keeping jobs, and forming long-term relationships. 

The current situation is especially formidable for children and youths, who are facing onslaughts on their mental and physical well-being from many angles. Perhaps the main disruption to children’s routines is school attendance. Global closures of schools have disrupted the learning and development of more than 91 percent of students, or 1.57 billion children, according to UNICEF. A recently published study in The Lancet confirms that school closures during this pandemic have affected children’s mental well-being, as they have been unable to access mental health support, peer support groups, and the face-to-face services normally offered in schools. Children with special needs are noted as being especially at risk due to disruptions in specialized learning programs.

Academic performance is likely to be impacted, as students miss out on individualized instructions from their teachers and a lack of parental support to make up for that. Access to informative and entertaining extracurricular activities — such as libraries, summer schools and after-school clubs — has also been limited. Many schools have been ill-equipped to deal with distance learning and, consequently, students have been unable to connect remotely because of a lack of access to technology. School closures also affect children’s nutrition, as many poor students rely on school programs for their daily main meals. 

Additionally, interaction with some key figures in a child’s life — namely other family members, friends, and social support systems — has been restricted due to social distancing measures. This can negatively affect children’s well-being, considering that socializing is so important for them. Moreover, leisure and cultural activities have been canceled, meaning no access to fitness clubs, cafes and restaurants, outdoor green spaces, museums, and theaters. The lack of recreation is further intensifying stress levels among children.

Some could argue that a homebound life has rekindled familial affinity and bonding. While this may be true in some cases, on the other hand many parents have sadly lost their jobs and incomes. This has can have many repercussions on their children’s well-being. Some children are living in poor conditions due to poverty, resulting in a lack of essential health services, immunizations, and reliable sources of daily nutrition. Others have sadly become victims of domestic violence at the hands of their caregivers. These hidden acts of violence are more likely to occur when families experience extreme stress, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future.

Parents have also found themselves juggling remote work and homeschooling without the respite of support from daycare or childcare services. Others could be mourning the loss of beloved family members, resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. Altogether, this enormous stress from multiple aspects is impacting all family members.

Each day, we are inundated with news of COVID-19’s horrific impacts on the global economy and the millions of people it has afflicted or claimed. However, we must not forget the millions of children who have also been victims of this pandemic. Policymakers are responsible for drawing up solutions to alleviate the many challenges facing children.

We must not forget the millions of children who have also been victims of this pandemic.

Sara Al-Mulla

Firstly, governments need to assist households that have been struggling to maintain their livelihoods and incomes by providing cash transfers that cover housing, lifesaving health care services, school tuition fees, and food security. Secondly, local governments can partner with volunteers to design community-based programs that assist children in coping with stress, such as weekly online talks by school counselors on healthy coping skills, online workouts by fitness instructors, weekly art classes, and cooking classes. Telepsychiatry services also need to be offered to children and parents to address their individual, complex challenges. Additionally, information on parenting skills and family relationship management during the pandemic needs to be widely available. Lastly, measures need to be put in place to protect children from domestic violence.

We need to address these critical challenges today in order to ensure a better future for our children in a post-pandemic world.

• Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature.