How E-Class Overdose Is Hurting Kids

Screen-time spike hits physical, mental health of Delhi children Some parents plan to make students drop a year to avoid risks Authorities & most schools try to reduce virtual learning hours

- Chayyanika Nigam and Sushant Mehra

The worst fears of Advik’s parents came true when he recently complained of problems in his eyes. The 5th grader had been attending online classes on a laptop 5-6 hours a day, in addition to spending even longer durations on phone and TV screens.

“We’re getting him treated at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital,” said Ashima Rastogi, his event-planner mother.

In Delhi, hundreds of children like Advik have begun to suffer from eye-related issues (weakening of eyesight, besides pain, irritation and dryness in eyes), earache, headache and even mental health complications due to an overdose of coronavirus-induced virtual learning.

For example, class V student Parav Bharadwaj, who attended online classes for four-and-a-half hours for several weeks, feels irritation in his eyes and pain in ears. There is also screen fatigue caused by prolonged usage of devices.

Consultation calls to doctors have spiked and Advik is not the only child who has been hospitalised. Rashi Mishra a class VIII student from Kailash Colony is undergoing treatment for weak eyesight and constant headache.

She keeps her head very close to the screen to write down whatever is shown there. We should be careful in dealing with kids who have never spent such long hours on screen, said Rashi’s homemaker mother Pooja Mishra.

Mishti Basu, 14, has conjunctivitis every second week. Doctors found that excessive screen time is the cause.

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Ever since the Covid-19 outbreak, life for children has changed like never before. Schools are closed and meetings with peers and friends outdoor are prohibited. They are being forced to adjust to the changing dynamics of social and interpersonal relationships.