Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday interacted with parents in a session on ‘Parenting’ in the Time of Corona’. During the session, Kejriwal and Sisodia both answered questioned posed by children and parents on COVID -19
Urging parents to utilise this time with children to the maximum, Sisodia who is also Education Minister in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Cabinet, said Parents need to be sensitive about this situation and monitor what their children are exposed to in these times.
Kejriwal asked parents to understand the gravity of the situation and explain this to the children is crucial for the parents. “Parents should set an example for their children by those in need around us,” he said. According to data available with Directorate of Education ( DoE ), 44 Lakh students in Delhi are studying in Government, private and corporations schools.
The interaction was joined by the Director of Education Vinay Bhushan and CEO of Meraki Foundation, Seemant Dhadwal.
Kejriwal and Sisodia took questions on COVID-19 and its gravity, and urged parents to take a positive approach and explain to their children sensitively about the gravity of the situation.
Initiating the session, Sisodia said, “If we talk about Delhi, 44 lakh students are studying in Delhi schools including MCD, private and Government schools. As a result of the lockdown, children are at home. It is very important to understand how to sail through these tough times. The aim is to effectively utilise our time at homes during the isolation, and that is why we are holding this discussion on “Parenting in the Time of corona.”
Introducing the session to the audience, Kejriwal said, “We had to close down schools for the last 15-20 days, due to the extraordinary situation that has arisen worldwide. The only way that we can save ourselves from the virus is by following social distancing norms, staying away from other people and ceasing contact with others. Considering the gravity of the situation and to ensure good health of you and your children, we had to shut down schools 15-20 days back.”
“Children are energetic, they want to go out and play, but all their activities have stopped because of the lockdown. I can understand that they must be having questions on Coronavirus and the lockdown. Following our announcement yesterday on ‘Parenting in the times of Corona’ broadcast, we have got interesting questions from the parents and children,” said Kejriwal.
Quoting a question from a parent on the COVID-19, he said, “A 5-year-old girl has asked her mother, if we were all are going to die. Children are innocent, and it is natural for them to have all these questions. We will try to address these questions that children have and those that parents have as well. We will also extend this program further and conduct this session on a regular basis with various experts. Our motive is to change this time of crisis into an opportunity. Everyone is so busy in their lives that we do not get time to sit and have a conversation with our children, even in summer vacations during school when parents are usually working all the time. This is the time when everybody is at home, and parents and children can spend quality time with each other. I hope that by the end of this program parents will be able to know how to constructively engage their children in activities and conversations during these times of the lockdown.”
Bhushan , DoE said, “Children are asking questions on the reasons for the lockdown, and then posing questions on why they can not go out to play and meet their friends. Parents are unable to understand how to answer these questions. I would like CM Arvind Kejriwal to say something on this.”
CM Arvind Kejriwal said, “Parents must be explaining to their children about Coronavirus, and how dangerous this new virus is. The parents should explain to their children that this virus is contagious and spreads through direct contact. The first way through which the virus can enter if a person coughs or sneezes on you if you are standing close to him. The second way is somebody covering their mouth and nose with their hands while coughing and sneezing and touching some surface, and then touching that surface and touching your face and mouth again.