The Department of Health (DOH) encouraged parents to spend more quality time with their children to safeguard the latter’s mental health during this time of pandemic.

“When we talk about mental health, it is really no longer healthy even for us to not be able to do our usual practices (during this time). This is more true especially for children because they are more impatient than us,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in Filipino.

“They are looking for something they can do, something that will be fun for them,” she added.

Vergeire said that it is important for parents to explain to the children why they need to stay at home amid the current situation.

“Parents need to explain well what is happening—why kids cannot go out, why they need to study at home instead of going to school. These have to be explained to the kids so that they will better understand,” she said.

Aside from schoolwork, parents should also give their children other activities.

“There should be something that can take their minds off their anxieties. It can be storytelling with parents, continuous communication with them, always talking with them, always calling them for family activities,” she said.

“If possible, let them go out and get some sun within the backyard. If not possible, accompany them in seeing outside surroundings even for a while.

This is very important children at this point in our situation,” she added.