Staying at home is not only the best way to limit the spread of COVID-19, but is also an opportunity to strengthen bonding with family members. Millions of people have found themselves in an exceptional situation due to this virus outbreak. People do not know how to utilise this time as they are not used to spending too much time at home.
Staying home for a long time may cause some problems for some people. Sensing this problem, many organisations are offering tips on how to deal with this new situation. Such occasions can be used as an opportunity to check with each other, exchange ideas, and perhaps lend some social support to each other.
It enhances closeness among family members and strengthens parents’ bonding with children by spending time with them.
Recent psychological studies have proven that the regular gathering of the family has positive psychological effects on individuals, and that the family session is one of the most successful educational methods, in which everyone participates, and leads to family cohesion.
Staying at home is an opportunity for learning new things and gaining some healthy and educational habits. As well as it is a chance to alleviate the children’s use of smart devices such as iPad and PlayStation. Home stay should be considered as an opportunity for family rapprochement through reading and making a pleasant and beneficial atmosphere in the home.
Many social media users in Qatar said that sitting at home should be used as an opportunity to learn new skills and rearrange some of homework.
Under the hashtag #StayAtHome, Hama — a resident — tweeted that “Staying at home is not an option, it is compulsory, as studying in universities and schools is suspended and even public places such as beaches and gardens are closed. This means we have to look at the positive side of sitting at home.”
Everyone should take advantage of the time they are spending at home to engage in creative activities. It is an opportunity to spend time with the family and the children especially for those who used to travel abroad and spend most of the time outside the country, tweeted another resident. Maryam Osama said: “Never sit around passively waiting for someone to make you feel special, always work on yourself, on your life, every second you’re alone, and always ask yourself ‘what can I do for me?” Another resident tweeted, “Make sure to keep educational process going during this exceptional phase by joining online classes”.
Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education has said that it had taken into account the comprehensiveness of education for all students in the distance learning process, including students with disabilities of all classes, in order to ensure the progress of the educational process.
On its website, the UNICEF said: “If the school you are studying at has closed and you are staying home, enjoy the free time you have available and do the things you love. There are many fun games you can play alone or with your family. Do not sit too long in front of the TV, computer or mobile phone.”
It also said: “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues its exponential growth, it is essential to support working families to minimise negative consequences for children. Job loss, school closures, and unavailability of childcare mean that families, especially those in low-income households, need extra support.” Regarding the situation of children, although the idea of staying at home is annoying for children, they can benefit from practising some hobbies and games, especially puzzles that help them to develop their logical thinking. Also, books that contain drawings of animals, plants, and numbers are important. The studies say that the best solution to fight coronavirus is to sit at home. Despite the efforts of the Qatar government and the available healthcare services, sitting at home is necessary to fight the virus.
Dr. Laith Abu Raddad, Professor of Healthcare Policy and Research at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, a Qatar Foundation partner university, emphasised that containing this virus is a collective responsibility of people and governments. “We will not be able to control the spread of coronavirus unless every person becomes engaged and follows the prevention recommendations”.
He also said: “This is an unusual epidemic that requires every person to act with responsibility and cooperate with the other people and the public health authorities.”
The Ambassador of China to Qatar, Zhou Jian, in a recent virtual press conference, said: “I would also like to point out that epidemic prevention is not only the responsibilities of the government and medical staff. It requires a comprehensive cooperation of all citizens and foreign expatriates. Everyone is a warrior in fighting the virus, and we should all abide by the measures of the government and the suggestions of health experts,” he added.
Also, the Ambassador of Cuba to Qatar, Emilio Caballero Rodriguez, in a recent talk with The Peninsula, said: “Like everybody, these days I am observing the evolution of the pandemic created by COVID-19 all over the World. Fortunately, here in Qatar I see that its authorities had acted very fast, in a preventive manner, and have taken very serious and comprehensive actions to protect the whole of the population while with much responsibility and dedication the persons that unfortunately got the virus.”
“Of course, such an official effort, to be totally successful, requires the understanding, participation and commitment on the part of the whole population. In this regard I observe much discipline and social responsibility here. God bless Qatar,” he added.
