ABSTRACT
Children are vulnerable and susceptible to the health and psycho-social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic because of extended stay at home, lack of peer socialisation, and online education. In this context, the study was conducted in Kerala, India, to explore daily life patterns, health, and mental health using a survey covering 398 children (4–12 years). The inquiry followed a cross-sectional quantitative approach. Two schools in Kochi City in Kerala were contacted, and the list of parents was collected through the Parent–Teacher Association. The families predominantly belonged to the middle class, wherein both the parents were working in most of the cases. The data were collected using Google Forms between 13 October 2020 and 13 November 2020. The analysis showed that most children had no stable routine, and very little time was dedicated to physical activities. Most of the children reported issues related to online education, including anxiety and lack of ability to focus. Bivariate analysis shows that health issues and time spent on TV/social media significantly correlate with gender and age. The study signifies the need for initiating counselling services (for both children and parents) and short training programmes to develop life skills.
