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CORONAVIRUS

A survey conducted by ParentCircle.com

Coronavirus has impacted the mindset of the Indian parents. Here is what parents are likely to do in the foreseeable future. A nationwide survey, which had 12000 respondents participating, covered key areas of a child’s life, including schooling, playing with other children, birthday parties, visits to malls, public transport, and vacation. There is evident fear in the minds of the parents now and going by the responses in the survey, it is unlikely to go away any time soon.

No birthday parties for remainder of 2020

The survey also covered other important aspects of a child’s social life including playing with other children, birthday parties, sports and activities, vacation, visit to malls and movies and restaurants – aspects we associate with a child’s life quite regularly. Such is the level of apprehension that 64% parents are unwilling to send their children to birthday parties for the rest of the calendar year even if social distancing norms are followed.

No Restaurants, Malls and Movies for remainder of 2020 It is not just birthday parties feeling the heat, even visits to malls and movie halls are set to take a major backseat with less than 1% of parents willing to visit a mall or a movie theatre immediately upon reopening. A good 50% have decided against

any visit to a mall or a movie theatre for the rest of the year. The figure is just as compelling for eating out even though parents had an option to choose ‘will go if safety standards are strictly followed’.

49% parents said they will not visit a restaurant for the rest of the year while another 33% are unwilling to risk for at least 3 months. It is important to note that parents are either being unsure about safety standards or just do not want to take any risk. Those who are comfortable with safety standards make up for only 17% of the responses.

Play only if social distancing

Friendship is the cornerstone of a child’s life and most parents are unable to decide whether to allow their children to play with their friends immediately after easing of norms. 50% parents are wanting to wait and watch the evolving situation before any decision in this regard. However, some bright light here. A healthy 35% parents are willing to get their children back to parks to play with other children, but only if social distancing norms are followed strictly.

Fitness

Sports takes a backseat, individual sports silver lining 45% say no to sports activities for at least 6 months. But good news, 25% are willing to send their children back to individual sports after restart.

Family Vacation

The idea of vacation has taken a major beating due to the Covid-19, on two fronts – Risks related to travel and looming economic crisis. Our survey indicates less than 1% are willing to ‘holiday’ like they did in pre-Covid days immediately after the easing of lockdown norms. 57% feel it is unsafe to travel for a considerable period. Interestingly, 30% want to save for the rainy day instead of spending on vacations due to an impending economic impact of Coronavirus, which includes potential loss of jobs and pay cuts across sectors.

We now present National highlights from the survey and city-wise highlights from the top 6 cities that took part in the survey – Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Delhi.

National highlights

• School reopening: 56% will monitor for a month after school reopening before sending their child back to school. 21% want to avoid sending children to school for at least 6 months. 15% considering home-schooling as an option
• Birthday parties: 64% won’t send their children to birthday parties in 2020. 35% willing to

Playing with other children: 35% willing to let their children play with other children but only with social

• distancing. 50% want to wait and watch Covid situation before deciding
• Malls and movies: 50% say no mall and movies for the remainder of 2020. Less than 0.5% willing to go as soon as the lockdown ends
• Restaurant visit: 83% not planning to visit any restaurant for at least 3 months after lockdown
• Activity classes: 26% to switch to online activity classes. 43% feel activity classes can wait till things get clearer
• Fitness: 43% say no to sports activities for the next 6 months. 25% say yes to individual sports and 26% unable to decide
• Vacation: 57% feel travelling for a family vacation too risky in the near future. 30% want to save the vacation money due to uncertain economic future.
• Public Transport: 43% feel public transport will be too risky for a considerable period
• Handshake: 70% want children to do namaste instead of shaking hands.

CITY-WISE TOP STATISTICS

Bangalore highlights

School reopening: 56% will monitor for a month after school reopening before sending their child back to

• school. 21% want to avoid sending children to school for at least
• 6 months. 12% considering home-schooling as an option
• Birthday parties: 55% won’t send their children to birthday parties in 2020. 44% willing to
• Playing with other children: 38% willing to let their children play with other children but only with social distancing. 44% want to wait and watch Covid situation before deciding
• Malls and movies: 52% say no mall and movies for the remainder of 2020. Less than 1% willing to go as soon as the lockdown ends
• Restaurant visit: 80% not planning to visit any restaurant for at least 3 months after lockdown
• Activity classes: 28% to switch to online activity classes. 36% feel activity classes can wait
• till things get clearer
• Sports and fitness: 43% say no to sports activities for the next 6 months. 25% say yes to individual sports and 26% unable to decide
• Vacation: 59% feel travelling for a family vacation too risky in the near future

• Public Transport: 43% feel public transport will be too risky for a considerable period
• Handshake: 70% want children to do namaste instead of shaking hands.

Mumbai highlights

• School reopening: 54% will monitor for a month after school reopening before sending their child back to school. 24% want to avoid sending children to school for at least
• 6 months. 14% considering home-schooling as an option
• Birthday parties: 60% won’t send their children to birthday parties in 2020. 39% willing to send if safety and social distancing measures firmly in place
• Playing with other children: 32% willing to let their children play with other children but only with social distancing. 55% want to wait and watch Covid situation before deciding
• Malls and movies: 43% say no mall and movies for the remainder of 2020. 0.16% okay
• going as soon as the lockdown ends
• Restaurant visit: 78% not planning to visit any restaurant for at least 3 months after
• lockdown
• Activity classes: 25% to switch to online activity classes. 44% feel activity classes can wait
• till things get clearer
• Sports and fitness: 43% say no to sports activities for the next 6 months. 25% say yes to individual sports and 27% unable to decide
• Vacation: 53% feel travelling for a family vacation too risky in the near future
• Public Transport: 37% feel public transport will be too risky for a considerable period
• Handshake: 65% want children to do namaste instead of shaking hands.

Chennai highlights

School reopening: 54% will monitor for a month after school reopening before sending their child back to school. 22% want to avoid sending children to school for

• at least 6 months. 13% considering home-schooling as an option
• Birthday parties: 66% won’t send their children to birthday parties in 2020. 34% willing to send if safety and social distancing measures firmly in place
• Playing with other children: 39% willing to let their children play with other children but only with social distancing. 44% want to wait and watch Covid situation before deciding
• Malls and movies: 59% say no mall and movies for the remainder of 2020. Less than 1% willing to go as soon as the lockdown ends
• Restaurant visit: 86% not planning to visit any restaurant for at least 3 months after lockdown
• Activity classes: 26% to switch to online activity classes. 38% feel activity classes can wait till things get clearer
• Sports and fitness: 43% say no to sports activities for the next 6 months. 29% say yes to individual sports and 22% unable to decide
• Vacation: 63% feel travelling for a family vacation too risky in the near future
• Public Transport: 44% feel public transport will be too risky for a considerable period
• Handshake: 69% want children to do namaste instead of shaking hands.

Kolkata highlights

• School reopening: 57% will monitor for a month after school reopening before sending their child back to school. 20% want to avoid sending children to school for at least 6 months. 16% considering home-schooling as an option
• Birthday parties: 69% won’t send their children to birthday parties in 2020. 31% willing to send if safety and social distancing measures firmly in place
• Playing with other children: 30% willing to let their children play with other children but only with social distancing. 56% want to wait and watch Covid situation before deciding
• Malls and movies: 47% say no mall and movies for the remainder of 2020. 0.21% okay going as soon as the lockdown ends
• Restaurant visit: 82% not planning to visit any restaurant for at least 3 months after lockdown
• Activity classes: 31% to switch to online activity classes. 40% feel activity classes can wait till things get clearer
• Sports and fitness: 46% say no to sports activities for the next 6 months. 22% say yes to individual sports and 30% unable to decide
• Vacation: 53% feel travelling for a family vacation too risky in the near future
• Public Transport: 39% feel public transport will be too risky for a considerable period
• Handshake: 67% want children to do namaste instead of shaking hands.

Hyderabad highlights

• School reopening: 53% will monitor for a month after school reopening before sending their child back to school. 22% want to avoid sending children to school for at least 6 months. 18% considering home-schooling as an option
• Birthday parties: 58% won’t send their children to birthday parties in 2020. 41% willing to send if safety and social distancing measures firmly in place
• Playing with other children: 42% willing to let their children play with other children but only with social distancing. 42% want to wait and watch Covid situation before deciding
• Malls and movies: 54% say no mall and movies for the remainder of 2020. 0.21% okay going as soon as the lockdown ends
• Restaurant visit: 84% not planning to visit any restaurant for at least 3 months after lockdown
• Activity classes: 30% to switch to online activity classes. 35% feel activity classes can wait till things get clearer
• Sports and fitness: 45% say no to sports activities for the next 6 months. 26% say yes to individual sports and 22% unable to decide
• Vacation: 58% feel travelling for a family vacation too risky in the near future
• Public Transport: 39% feel public transport will be too risky for a considerable period
• Handshake: 72% want children to do namaste instead of shaking hands.

Delhi highlights

• School reopening: 53% will monitor for a month after school reopening before sending their child back to school. 24% want to avoid sending children to school for at least 6 months. 18% considering home-schooling as an option
• Birthday parties: 68% won’t send their children to birthday parties in 2020. 32% willing to send if safety and social distancing measures firmly in place
• Playing with other children: 30% willing to let their children play with other children but only with social distancing. 53% want to wait and watch Covid situation before deciding
• Malls and movies: 48% say no mall and movies for the remainder of 2020. Less than 1% willing to go as soon as the lockdown ends
• Restaurant visit: 85% not planning to visit any restaurant for at least 3 months after lockdown
• Activity classes: 26% to switch to online activity classes. 46% feel activity classes can wait till things get clearer
• Sports and fitness: 44% say no to sports activities for the next 6 months. 23% say yes to individual sports and 30% unable to decide
• Vacation: 57% feel travelling for a family vacation too risky in the near future
• Public Transport: 48% feel public transport will be too risky for a considerable period
• Handshake: 69% want children to do namaste instead of shaking hands.

Commenting on the survey, Nalina Ramalakshmi, Founder & Managing Director of ParentCircle, says, “An overwhelming majority of parents are worried and unsure. They are anxious and not ready to take any chances. Parents need assurance that their children will be safe in school, group activities and other public places. They would prefer their children stay home and be safe, rather than take any risks by letting them venture out till the COVID-19 crisis blows over. As a society, we need to continue with physical distancing practices, washing of hands and wearing masks for the foreseeable future to ensure the health and safety of everyone, including our children. The onus is on schools and other public places to ensure that safety measures and physical distancing policies are in place before they open up for activities.”