Meet the Expert – ‘Finding Creative and Science-informed solutions to enable self-care for children in a COVID-19 affected world’

Meet the Expert – ‘Finding Creative and Science-informed solutions to enable self-care for children in a COVID-19 affected world’

During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of children including adolescent boys & girls have been negatively affected across various domains of their health and development, reads a Unicef Report issued in March 2021. With prolonged school closures, the educational void is increasing day by day and education is probably suffering the most reads another paper.
An Indian study that covered more than 16000 students across five States in India has shown that children have declined in (at least one) mathematical and linguistic abilities. Another study conducted across 15 States revealed the gross failure of online learning methodology to reach out to all students. Only 24% students from urban area 8% from rural area are reported to study online regularly. 37% of rural children are completely out of the education stream. Children were homebound for more than 17 months now. Consequently, they are displaying significant physical and psychosocial health issues. Reopening of the schools and bringing back normalcy in their lives is eagerly awaited.
As children have returned to school in January 2022 after prolonged school closures, teachers are not only facing the challenge of cognitive regression widely amongst students but also a range of health challenges. Physical & Mental health has been affected and teachers are confronted with this reality every day.
This 19th edition of ‘Meet the Expert’ series is dedicated to the theme:

‘Finding Creative and Science-informed solutions to enable self-care for children in a COVID-19 affected world’

What is self-care? The World Health Organization defines self-care as ‘the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a healthcare provider.’ Simple things like taking time out for a water break, doing a short series of eye exercises or simply taking a few deep breadths in classroom for a few minutes after the students have left are all important and contribute to self-care. So here’s to many more such simple ways to self-care and advance health!
PPT: Session-for-Teachers-BVB-school-14th-May-2022.pdf

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