Unmasking the silent struggle in schoolkids

 

Just like adults, children continue to feel the effects of Covid-19 more than a year down the line. They have not enjoyed typical student experiences. Nor have they had activities designed to encourage social bonding and relationship building at home and school holiday events.

During the pandemic, students with academic achievements have also suffered disappointment from a lack of in-person opportunities to celebrate them.

As schools resume for the third term, students require the reassurance needed to achieve their best. Some of the challenges they face are less obvious than others.

While masks have become a part of the school uniform as a major weapon in the fight against Covid-19 infection, this is not without a cost. 

Jenny Coetzee, managing director at Crawford International School Kenya, says the experience of smiling and seeing the smiles of others is an emotional aspect that changes the way our brains work as it releases hormones of pleasure.

“Smiling and seeing the smiles of others physically protects children against stress and its effects. Just not seeing the smiles of classmates is a continuing limitation affecting children’s school days,” she says.

The prospect of getting back to the pre-Covid-19 times keeps hopes alive that children might be able to smile at each other again at school without wearing masks, she adds. Sharing of birthdays in school, normal playtime and activities are some basics held with great value by learners. Being deprived of these essentials of human engagement has already affected their psyches, changing what was previously considered as everyday normality.

“For this reason, parents need to ensure a healthy balance in the lives of their children and limit unnecessary stress and pressure on their children during this difficult time. Be wary of transferring personal fears onto children," Coetzee says.

Angelica Ouya, education director at the Makini Group of Schools, said the pandemic has put pressure on all education systems. “What role can we play to ease the impact of this pandemic on the learning process and give smiles and laughter to all our children?” she asked.

“Parents need to listen with care and respect to the teachers who understand the impact of the virus on educational needs, and we need to harness and spread goodwill, solutions and new ways of thinking to give children reason to smile. To do this we must not wait for the pandemic to be over, but work within the current conditions.”  BY THE STAR