Eat healthy, exercise regularly & remain occupied

How to keep kids below 10 & elderly above 65 physically & mentally fit?

They need companion

There is no doubt that protecting elderly people from coronavirus is important, but at the same time, they need some sort of companionship, as loneliness is the biggest disease. They must be taken out to a safe place if not markets for some time for a change. Some close relatives like daughters and sons can visit elders and socialise, but with necessary precautions of distancing and other safety norms.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Precaution is the only solution

Nobody can dare to take Covid head on. The wisdom lies in using good quality masks, maintaining social distance, and restricting the movement of elderly and children. All educational institutions should open in shifts. Morning prayers should be dispensed with. The show must go on with all possible precautions till the time coronavirus disappears. The UT Administration should ensure implementation of all guidelines. Wrong doers should be penalised.

KC Rana, Chandigarh

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Start project for senior citizens

It’s duty of family members to keep children engaged in their studies or other recreational activities. It is time to inculcate good values among children by understanding their psychology and individual needs. Grandparents can talk to kids and teach them moral values through stories and their experiences. Neighbours can take care of senior citizens, who live alone. The government should start a project to take care of senior citizens by communicating with them online or by sending volunteers to their homes to take care of their personal needs.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Home is safe for elders, kids

There has not been any breakthrough in vaccine for coronavirus. So, it is advised to continue following the guidelines issued time to time by the WHO. Nothing will happen if for few more weeks high-risk individuals stay at home. There is a need to counsel individuals for mental health and advise yoga at home for physical fitness. Preventive steps are the only way to avoid contracting virus. The situation is worsening since the implementation of Unlock 1.0. Senior citizens and children are advised to enjoy hospitality at home.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Minhas (retd), Mohali

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Staying indoors will harm them

Lower age groups have been found to be more prone to infection than health conscious and law-abiding senior citizens. Asking them to stay indoors even in the Unlock 1.0 will harm them mentally. All senior citizens, who want to add zest to their lives deserve interaction with their buddies in parks, community centres and library rooms. They should wear mask and maintain social distance.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Can go out with family members

As all activities are starting gradually, keeping children and elderly indoors for a long period will adversely affect them physically and mentally. Such individuals might face physiological issues. They should be encouraged to go out with their family members so that they do not venture into crowded place. There should be no problem in RWA societies with proper gates.

BS Dhillon, Mohali

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It’s a life-saving test, be in your nest

East or West, home is the best. Take some rest. Don't call any guest. Enjoy at home fest. Don't have an outgoing zest. This is our life saving test. So, be in our nest. This is the entire world's request. Every student cannot concentrate his/her mind on studies or indoor games. Online studies are out of bounds for many students due to non-availability of broadband. Parents cannot teach every subject. Such students should be allowed tuitions. Elders should be allowed to go for morning walk.

JP Goel, Chandigarh

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Do 30-minute yoga at home

Till now, the situation is not under control. Covid-19 cases are increasing day by day. Sending children (below 10 years) and adults (above 65 years) out to refresh and relax their minds can be harmful to a family and society. Rather doing yoga for 30 minutes daily is the best option. It is a crucial time. Until the government and the medical fraternity find a solution to this pandemic, each one of us has to cooperate with the authorities concerned.

Ankita Sharma, Chandigarh

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Occasional outings will benefit both

It is difficult to keep children and senior citizens indoor for a long period. Occasionally, they should be allowed to venture out under the supervision of a young member of the family. He/she should take care of their hygiene, that they wear mask and keep social distance. This step would ensure that kids and elders don't feel depressed and experience mental agony.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

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Exercise under regulated conditions

It is utmost important that children and elders are aware of the situation arisen due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They need to go out for refreshing their mind and develop body and personality by outdoor physical exercises under regulated conditions while adhering to all prescribed guidelines. Children need to be under watchful supervision of their guardians and caretakers.

Anil Nanda, Patiala

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Play indoor games

As technologies keep people virtually connected, home quarantine is no longer dreary confinement as it historically used to be. To ensure its success, we have to be honestly home quarantined under the lockdown. The only way to ease the situation in high-risk groups below 10 and above 65 years is engaging in indoor games like carrom, ludo, backgammon and cards and create a bonhomie in the family.

Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur

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Safety begins with self

As the Covid-19 monster is not leaving us too soon it is better to be safe than sorry. The new normal of precautions and personal protection bequeathed during past days of stringent regulations have made us shift to alternative ways and means to work and recoup for our mental and physical well-being. Answer to the question whether new normal makes life difficult for the high-risk group is that it depends on person. Safety begins with self and sustains with scruples for thy neighbour as thyself.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

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Keep them busy in fruitful activities

It is difficult and depressing for children below 10 and elders above 65 years to stay indoors for such a long time. In this type of situation, they need the company of family members. We must spend time with kids/elders so that they may not feel depressed and keep them engaged in activities they like. An empty mind is a devil's workshop. Children can be made to do fruitful activities like craft, painting, and clay modelling whereas grownups can be kept busy by listening to 'bhajans', 'shabads', 'gurbani', watching mythological movies and serials. It will keep them mentally as well as physically healthy. Moreover, encourage them so that they may not lose hope.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

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Most vulnerable are the youth

What if youth, normally prone to immaturity, bring home coronavirus and infect children and senior citizens? Senior citizens are often matured, careful and precaution-oriented while small children are most obedient. May open malls, cinema halls, hotels, or clubs, only senior citizens would be self-restrainers and children can be easily restricted. Most vulnerable are the youth, who with their immaturity and false-ego often commit innumerable mistakes. Hence, elders and chidren should stay indoors.

MPS Chadha, Mohali

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Care of mental faculties important

Children, who are full of energy, and the old, who have nothing to do, are feeling the pinch of the isolation. Many senior citizens have started developing mental problems. Care of mental faculties is also attaining more importance. Permit elderly to go for morning and evening walks and visit shrines. Allow children to play outside parks and playgrounds. Due precautions like wearing masks, changing shoes and clothes immediately on entering the house and preferably taking bath afterwards must be observed.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

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Provide conducive atmosphere to both

Children below 10 and senior citizens above 65 need a little extra care so that their mental and physical health does not weigh heavy on their minds. Households having elderly and children need not go an extra mile. Provide them a conducive atmosphere to fight the growing feeling of being home quarantined. While elderly may pass time with their grandchildren by narrating bedtime stories, the younger lot may be insisted to play indoor games and watch children soap operas on the TV. The elderly can watch mythological serials, do physical activity and seek solace in household chores. Small family gossip sessions may prove beneficial for both.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

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Allow outdoor activities under watch

Children and elderly need full care and attention. No doubt, elderly should spend maximum time in the company of small kids at home. Allow small children to indulge in outdoor activities. Parents should be cautious to check such activities. Only healthy elderly people should devote their free time in social service with full precautions. They can make illiterate people aware of the coronavirus disease, how to maintain hygiene and give solace to depressed and deprived.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

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Innocent natural theatrics the answer

Children below 10 and senior citizens above 65 have by nature and nurture a strong psycho-emotional bond, which both respect unconditionally. Both may belong to a high-risk group, but they also are high-potential species for using imagination to great pragmatic advantage. Apart from telling and sharing stories children and family elders can indulge in fine arts. The subtle trick could be that seniors feign ignorance to let juniors teach them art skills. Reciting poetry and then explaining its meaning via appropriate tales could be great fun.

DR SS Bhatti, Chandigarh

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Keep busy to stay alive

Blessed are the families, which have kids and elderly in their houses. This is a divine gift. Grandparents can take care of the kids. When youngsters are there elderly need not go out. The real problem is with senior citizens living alone. Despite restrictions, they have no option but to go out for drawing pension, bank work, medical checkup and buying medicines, ration and other necessities. "The way to stay alive is to keep busy. Learned can be kept busy in writing their autobiography or other topics of interest.

Dr Gurdev Singh, Mohali

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Many are worried about their livelihood

Elderly are worst hit due to compulsive stay within four walls during the lockdown. Dark thoughts hover on their minds as many are worried about the effect on their source of livelihood. They do not have any source of income and want to work. The focus should be on health and not age. Children too are longing to go back to their classes and meet their friends. A mechanism has to be evolved to ease this situation without compromising on health of vulnerable sections.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Chandigarh

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Both are hungry for love and affection

With their experience, our elders have learnt to deal with different types of circumstances and problems. By now, they must have realised how to counter the prevailing situation. Children are unaware of the danger from the pandemic. In both cases immunity and stress is a major challenge. Elderly and kids need extra care, love, and affection. Create positive atmosphere in the family. Increase use of immunity booster food and supplements. Avoid watching discouraging news. Tune into spiritual or entertainment channels.

Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali

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Staying home is not confinement

The lockdown has been eased to revive economy. So, members of a family, who don't contribute financially, remain at home irrespective of their age. Staying at home is not confinement in any way. Rather it improves mental as well as physical health of all. Families having elderly should feel blessed by serving them with much care. Utilise this time to know about their life experiences and struggle. If humans can't stay at their homes then there is no such other place to reside in the universe.

Shailja Beniwal, Chandigarh

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Frequent interaction need of the hour

Elders need more attention and care. Their family members must interact with them frequently. They must encourage elders to do simple yogic exercises, watch TV programmes as per their taste and play indoor games. If possible, elders can be taken out for a drive with all precautions, including wearing masks and preventive gear, in vehicles with rolled-up windowpanes. It will boost their morale and help them shed gloomy feelings of house confinement.

SS Arora, Mohali

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Opportunity to understand values

Yes, it is tough for children and senior citizens to be in the lockdown. But, it is for their safety and health. Aim is to keep them physically moving and mentally active rather than getting bored, eating and sleeping. They should be taken out for a walk with all precautions in open fields and on deserted roads. Children and elders can be involved in gardening. Apart from attending online classes, children can be taught life skills and hobbies. Elders can read, write and share their experience with children. It’s good opportunity for the family to understand human values and bond.

Col RD Singh (retd), Ambala Cantt

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QUESTION

With returnees from other states adding to the Covid case load of the tricity, should the authorities allow them back with precautions and regulations or seal the borders for some time again?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]