BRACKENFELL
Woensdag, 3 Februarie 2021 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | e-pos: nuus@tygerburger.co.za
@TygerBurger
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PARENTS CONCERNED: PAEDIATRICIAN ADVISES
Lockdown: ‘Kids are not okay’ DESIRÉE RORKE @dezzierorke
W
ith the opening of schools extended to 14 February, the pandemic is taking a heavy toll on children. As parents may have mixed emotions about the impact of schools opening so late in the term, children show their anxiety by throwing tantrums and displaying anti-social behaviour and depression. A mother in Brackenfell tells of the impact lockdown regulations had on her nine-yearold daughter. “My daughter has always had a strong personality, so much so that I sometimes worried that she was overconfident. But with lockdown her personality started to change,” says the parent whose name is not published to protect the identity of the child. “When she had to go back to school last year, she did not want to and the things she said had me very worried. She started getting panic attacks and was referred to a psychologist who diagnosed her with social anxiety. She didn’t want to be around people at all and said things like ‘What does anything matter and why are we alive anyway?’ “Every day is different; some days better than others,” she says. The identity of all the parents TygerBurger spoke to will be protected. One such parent is very worried about her son. “He is generally a quiet child, but its getting worse. He misses his friends and routine. He is tired of playing computer games and bored with himself,” she says. Yet another parent spoke out about her two children. “During hard lockdown my 11-year-old did
not want to do anything and was paranoid about everything. Yesterday he told me, ‘Schools must open now, I cant handle this anymore’! His younger sister is very emotional as she misses her friends,” the mom says. Several other parents TygerBurger spoke to say their children have shown behavioural changes mostly due to the fact that they are bored and miss interaction with their friends, and are prone to temper tantrums. “My teenager ended up in the clinic last year and is currently on anti-depression medication. She was on a waiting list to get into the clinic as there were so many cases,” one mom says. Dr Iqbal Karbanee, paediatrician at Cape Gate Mediclinic and CEO of Paed-IQ Babyline, says this behaviour may be a normal reaction under the current uncertainty. Karbanee says it is essential to prioritise the wellbeing of your child or children during this uncertain time. “We are seeing an increase in the number of children displaying unusual behaviour as a direct consequence of the circumstances brought on by the pandemic,” he says. These changes can be very subtle, and may be mistaken for bad behaviour, rather than seen in context, which if not addressed correctly, could have a long-term negative impact. Children under the age of three may be experiencing mood swings, nightmares, fidgeting or the sudden onset of bedwetting. “I’ve seen this in my own child, who suddenly started getting nightmares of getting sick after eating food given to her by a stranger. V To page 2.
Superheroes in the shadows
A staff member at Mediclinic Louis Leipoldt takes a picture of the Cape Town Highlanders Pipe Band Association as they perform below as tribute to the frontline medical workers. The church across throws a shadow – resembling Batman – over the building. Read more on page 2. PHOTO: NIELEN DE KLERK