The pandemic threatened the lifestyles of our children and, as the effects of it became real, we had to navigate these drastic changes with care. Here are ways in which we coped and how we ushered in a new routine that kept our children active and healthy.
When the schools closed in March of 2020, my then 9-year-old son celebrated the end of early risings and his perception of ‘school’ and all that it entails. Then the quarantine hit us. At first, just like virtual school, it was a novelty; the idea of being locked in our homes for the first time in our lives. We watched movies and played games. We tried to keep the mood cheerful and keep the kids from seeing the numbers of people getting sick and the fear of this unknown, invisible threat.
As virtual school continued for an unprecedented length of time, the effects of all of this started to become very real for our family and others around the world. My previously lean child started to get a bit softer and I began observing closely as he ate out of boredom, sat in front of a screen, played video games for hours, and ate more. I realized snacking was becoming a coping mechanism, a kind of routine in a world of separation, isolation, and dullness. He sat and laid around… a lot. He became emotional more often and his moods started to sour, often filled with complaints, negative thoughts, expressions of anger and frustration, and a general air of unhappiness that he couldn’t name or explain. When we tried to scale back his snack options, it upset him almost as if we took his only faithful companion from him in a world that had taken a lot already.
Physically active children tend to have a better academic performance in school due to better focus and concentration, improvements in cognition and memory, and have significant reductions in depression and emotional challenges due to increases in self-esteem and building a positive outlook on life. The pandemic wreaked havoc on my family and others around the world and families are now facing an uphill challenge to try to reverse these undesirable impacts on our children physically and mentally.
Post-pandemic weight gain has been a concerning but common consequence of the sedentary nature of quarantine and virtual school experiences and the increase in obesity disproportionately impacted the most vulnerable including children who were slightly overweight before the pandemic and younger school-aged children. This lesson has re-emphasized the urgency to promote and instill the values of nutrition, and the importance of exercise in our lives to our children.
With recent headlines of research also showing a correlation between the pandemic effect and mental health in our children and a ten-fold increase in demand for mental health services since March 2020, it becomes even more critical to mobilize the family to counter these effects. Exercise and nutrition both have a net positive impact on a child’s emotional well-being and reduce the negative effects of screen. Physical activity in kids keeps the body strong but can also decrease symptoms of emotional challenges including depression, anxiety, and the aftereffects of loneliness.
One of the best ways we can encourage our children to be active and aware of their wellbeing is to be active role models aware of our wellbeing. Parents who are active and families that are active together open up a world of connection building opportunities to strengthen familial bonds through shared experiences and fun. When families share a passion for healthy lifestyles and healthy bodies, it promotes positive family time, strengthens ties between siblings as they develop their own passions and talents as individuals, and enables everyone to expand their social networks with like-minded families and friends.
Do the soul some good and volunteer to nurture a heart of service in your family. Contact Riyadh Animal Shelter and help care for their pets awaiting adoption or get your hands dirty and spend a few hours in the desert doing clean-up. Many embassies in the Diplomatic Quarter have groups that arrange volunteer meet-ups for all ages.
With Riyadh’s pristine winter weather just around the corner, now is the perfect time to create a new family routine and make lots of memories within and beyond the DQ to feed our bodies, our spirits, and our minds.
Check out our recommendations for some classic and unique offerings for kids and families to experience together:
Flite Freerun is a parkour gym with a dedicated curriculum for the youngest to the oldest! Learn more at https://www.flite.life/.
Waves Swimming Academy offers internationally recognized coaching standards, a full curriculum, and packages to meet every need. Check out their website at www. https://waveswimming.sa/en/.
Saudi Skate Park at Riyadh Boulevard features in-line skating, BMX bikes, and skateboarding. For more info visit their website at https://www.saudiskateparks.com/.
Let your children be a part of the newly launched Kids Club at the CORE Social Wellness Club. Your kids can participate in activities that they’ll surely enjoy. To become a CORE member, please contact Guest Relation at 9200 01223 or WhatsApp 053 1383188.
A premiere tennis academy in the heart of the DQ, DQ Tennis Academy has classes for ages 6 to adult. Learn more on their Instagram @dqtennis.
Another DQ staple, Almanahil has a variety of active options for kids and teens including taekwondo, swimming, and ballet. Learn more at www.almanahil.com.sa.
