The COVID 19 crisis has enveloped every activity we used to do with fear and panic. It has caused many state and federal school lockdowns around the country. It has also caused many young adults, in fear of their personal safety and security, to go back to their parents’ houses and live there for the foreseeable future as the vaccines are slowly getting rolled out. As multiple manufacturers pledge to distribute more of their vaccines, so too have schools vowed to keep classes held online temporarily. A lot of students and teachers have, by now, adjusted well into the online school scenario.
One of the heaviest hits during the deadliest pandemic in history are children and adolescents. To expect them to stay away from their friends and limit the social interactions they get is one of the heaviest burdens they have to bear. Depression and anxiety are only a few of the mental diseases children are feared to be developing this entire time the world is in disarray trying to keep safe from the virus.
Extreme irritability, general overall rage, and having a lethargic disposition are only a few of the signs you should watch out for in children and adolescents stuck at home with you for a long while. While they are safe from the virus, they may not be safe from themselves.
What are different activities you can do for the youth around your neighborhood to keep them safe, but sane?
Having a Zoom Viewing Party
It is understandable that options are extremely limited now for a lot of people. However, there is an untapped world behind all the closed doors. The internet has provided us with a lot of things and content to enjoy while we are stuck at home. Engage in a zoom viewing party of your favorite movie with your friends, neighbors, and family, and watch a movie together. Aside from being easy to set up, people wouldn’t have to deal with having to converse with one another — similar to a cinema theater experience. It is extremely important for a teenager to experience, albeit virtually, how it is to be outside again. Aside from that, he or she can also invite whoever he or she wants to the party.
Learning New Skills
Learning new skills is still important for all adults — especially adolescents. The world still intends to spin madly once the pandemic is over. As we get ourselves inoculated, we begin to see the silver lining of going back to normal. Skills such as driving, commuting, socializing, and others are important skills that everyone must have or still have when this is all over. Enrolling your young one in an online DMV-approved defensive driving course will go the distance when things go back to normal. Simple tasks as talking with them all the time and socializing with them even at downtimes will ensure that they still have the basic social skills they need in real life. Confidence in being well-equipped for all problems that lay ahead is a big plus to the life skills of a person.
Encouraging Safe Dating
Although it might be unpopular, dating applications shouldn’t be prevented in a time of pandemics, especially for adolescents. Application Assisted Dating or Dating Apps are all the rage pre-pandemic. Unfortunately for many of the young adults, this might be the most interaction they get from people of their opposite sex. While it can be dangerous, it must be at the very least allowed and regulated.
Adolescents have all the pent-up energy to always seek out their future partners in life. Adolescence is the time where young adults usually fall in love and try to be happy. Unfortunately for them, the pandemic has stunted their development in that area. As long as the dating applications are monitored and their chatmates vetted, it should be all good.
Organizing Exercise Meets
According to studies, jogging or biking may still be considered safe exercises as long as they are wearing masks. Physical health may take a hit because of the pandemic. This goes for all people — may they be young or old. Organizing jogging meets with neighbors while maintaining social distance is a great way to get that heart rate up. According to studies, exercise also helps improve the mood — no matter what their ages are.
Lastly, as part of their development, adolescents must learn that vaccines are important for us to progress. There are thousands and thousands of stories regarding teenagers who do not care and are averse to taking the vaccine. However, we must keep in mind that not all are strong and healthy like the majority of the aforementioned doubting teenagers. We must encourage them to do their part for society and get vaccinated for the greater good.
