How do lockdowns affect our children and what can we do to help them?

A mother supervising two of her older her children attending online classes while the younger ones play during an enhanced movement control order period in Selangor. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

WE all know that lockdowns are temporary measures to control the spread of Covid-19 within the community and lessen the healthcare burden. However, there are major concerns about how they can negatively affect people’s mental health. As a paediatrician, I receive numerous calls and visits by parents worried about their children’s health – especially those less than five years old. Most parents assume that the older age group would understand the pandemic better than the young ones and thus handle it better. I beg to differ.

Here are some observed effects of lockdowns on children.