COVID-19

This article was first published on the UNICEF Senegal website in 2021. COVID-19 has created an increased risk of malnutrition among children in Senegal due to its wide-reaching socio-economic impact. The pandemic affected all aspects of Senegal’s health system and early in the crisis access to nutrition services was often impaired, threatening…

The COVID-19 pandemic has put unprecedented pressure on global supply chains and the sourcing of vital medical supplies. This includes oxygen concentrators, which can save the lives of both COVID-19 patients and newborn children across the world.  UNICEF is working globally to overcome challenges in the logistics, transportation, trade and pricing…

COVID-19 is the first truly global crisis we have seen in our lifetime. No matter where we live, the pandemic affects every person – children most of all. Millions are missing out on basic health services, education and protection simply because they were born into poverty or because of their ethnicity, religion or race. COVID-19 has widened this…, For vaccines to work, we must build trust, History and science tell us vaccines are the best hope we have of ending this virus and rebuilding our lives and our livelihoods. Yet, as Ridhi reminds us, there is a real risk the  What you need to know about a COVID-19 vaccine COVID-19 vaccines  will not reach all who need it. Vaccine hesitancy will have a profound effect on our ability to…, Bridging the digital divide can help bring quality education for all, Kamogelo is right. During the peak of school closures in early 2020, about 30 per cent of the world’s schoolchildren were unable to access remote learning. In fact, only just over half of households in a majority of countries around the world have access to the internet. These are the same children who are already unlikely to have access to…, COVID-19 has unlocked attention on global youth mental health, Tulika is right: mental health is a big deal – just as important as physical health. This is especially true in childhood and adolescence, when we lay the foundations for our lifelong cognitive and learning ability, our emotional intelligence and our resilience in the face of stress. Again, the pandemic has highlighted just how vulnerable children…, COVID-19 does not discriminate, but our societies do, The coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone on the planet, but it is not affecting us all equally. In too many countries, your ethnicity, your colour or your wealth, may make you more likely to suffer the consequences. For  example , in the United States, African Americans represent 13 per cent of the population but roughly one fourth of COVID-…, Climate change is the other planetary crisis that won’t wait, COVID-19 has taught us that planetary problems require planetary solutions. No one suffers more from a change in climate than a child. Children are vulnerable to the changes in the air they breathe, the water they drink and the food they eat. We know children are more vulnerable to life-threatening water and food scarcity and waterborne diseases…

There comes a time when every parent struggles with how best to discipline their child. Whether dealing with a screaming toddler or an angry teen, it can be hard to control your temper. No parent wants to find themselves in such a situation and the bottom line is that shouting and physical violence never help. Thankfully, there are other, more…, Why positive discipline?, “Parents don't want to shout or hit their kids. We do it because we're stressed and don't see another way,” says Professor Cluver. The evidence is clear: shouting and hitting simply do not work and can do more harm than good in the long run. Repeated shouting and hitting can even adversely impact a child’s entire life. The continued “toxic stress…, Engaging with younger children, One-on-one time can be fun – and it’s completely free! “You can copy their expressions, bang spoons against pots, or sing together,” adds Professor Cluver. “There’s amazing research showing that playing with your children boosts their brain development.”, Engaging with older children, Like younger children, teenagers seek praise and want to be thought of as good. One-on-one time is still important to them. “They love it if you dance around the room with them or engage in a conversation about their favourite singer,” says Professor Cluver. “They may not always show it, but they do. And, it's an effective way of building a…, Advice for parents during the COVID-19 pandemic , The pandemic has brought about sudden and drastic changes in the lives of families with parents directly in the middle of it. Here are some tips that can help parents get through these and any other stressful times: 1. Pause We all know the stress when we feel our child is being difficult. At moments like these, being present and stepping back is…

Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a vital role in communicating risks and engaging with communities to help mitigate COVID-19. UNICEF, together with the China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE), recently held a virtual session to support the sharing of knowledge and experiences between CSOs in China and Sierra Leone. This is part…

As cases of COVID-19 surge worldwide and threaten to overwhelm life-saving health services, the survival of mothers and children is at great risk. In The Lancet Global Health, Timothy Roberton and colleagues present startling new evidence on the potential rise in maternal and child mortality in low-income and middle-income countries if essential…

Learning from home can be a challenge, but it can be made fun! It also presents a valuable opportunity to develop your child’s ability to self-manage. We’re here to share a few tips to help you ease your child into home learning mode and guide their learning while they’re away from their normal school environment, rules and  schedule - all while…

What parenting lessons can we take away from the COVID-19 outbreak? Helping your child practice good personal hygiene habits What parenting lessons can we take away from the COVID-19 outbreak? Developing good personal hygiene habits is an important life lesson for children, during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond. Parents should walk the talk by…

Each of us has our own opinions, which are influenced by our backgrounds, our life experiences, and the people we’re surrounded by. If we can recognize and respect these differences, discrimination will not occur. We can then cooperate with others, solve problems together, and reflect on the world we live in. Here are some tips on how to teach…

There’s a lot of breaking news every day during the COVID-19 outbreak. Some of it is controversial. This is a good opportunity to teach your child to see things from different angles. Taking different perspectives can help children respond to challenges rationally and calmly and make responsible decisions. Understanding other people’s perspectives…

We recently surveyed children and parents across China on how they feel about returning to school. We have received over 40,000 responses, and have gathered tips and advice to address some of your greatest concerns. Are your children ready to go back to school? Not surprisingly, children have mixed feelings about going back to school. Children are…

During the COVID-19 outbreak, you may be spending more time with your child, helping him or her with their online learning, playing and relaxing together, as well as potentially working from home. And unlike children, who can seem to have limitless energy, for parents this can be exhausting. If you’re feeling exhausted or overwhelmed, allow…