The effects of quarantine have had some unexpected surprises. One such effect is that many people are reporting happier, less anxious kids. As we are no longer shuttling our kids from activity to activity, rushing through dinners and homework, our kids have more control over their time.  

Social media posts and discussion boards feature hundreds of parents sharing stories of children that seem to be happier, are less anxious, are sleeping better and are spending more time simply playing.  

MANY KIDS ARE THRIVING

Many kids are thriving as parents are spending an increasing amount of time with their children, taking the opportunity to teach their kids some important life skills such as baking, cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry and gardening.  

Family meals at long last have once again become the norm. Kids are enjoying outdoor breaks more frequently and fostering a greater sense of independence.  

According to a 2019 study by the American Psychological Association , major depression in youth increased 52% from 2005 to 2017 and 63% in young adults aged 18 to 25 between 2009 and 2017. 

The suicide rate among those aged 10 to 24 years also rose 56% from 2007 to 2017.  The study conducted by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, indicates that this increase is a result of a whole society which is overworked and time-poor, and our kids are paying the price.  

One of the most well-supported explanations for the rise of mental–health disorders is that children have too much going on and not enough choice over what they do. 

In our home, long forgotten toys and games have found their way out of cupboards. At 12 and 14 years of age, I had assumed our kids had long outgrown this part of their childhood, but our living room has once again become home to a collection of barbies and Lego.  

 During online school breaks our daughter can be found quietly playing with barbies or fully immersed in a Lego-land story, while our 14-year-old son flies his toy planes around the room. It really is a beautiful thing.  

OPRAH BELIEVES “WE HAVE ALL BEEN SENT TO OUR ROOMS”.

How wonderful it would be if we could take note and contemplate how we may want to restructure our lives once restrictions are lifted! Oprah believes this pandemic is a wake-up call and that “we have all been sent to our rooms”.

Well, maybe she is right, and we should start thinking about how we want our lives to look as we move forward. After all, we only get one go around. Let’s make it the very best we can for ourselves and our children. 

Food for thought! 

📷 : Alyssa Stevens