Credit: WINK News. Psychologists say kids are now suffering from anxiety due constraints of the pandemic. That includes anxiety related to not going to school in person and being unable to see friends. We spoke to a psychologist in Southwest Florida about what can be done to help improve the mental health of children throughout the region’s communities. We also spoke to a mom about what it’s been like for her children during the pandemic and changes she’s made in response to it. First, we must pay attention to them and look for signs of stress, as well as any changes in their personality. While it’s important to protect kids from the coronavirus, it’s also critical to bring them to places like such as parks, so kids can get outside and play. It wasn’t long ago when playgrounds were empty, and kids were stuck in their homes. Now, some parents let their kids play because they’ve come to see their kids are suffering mentally and emotionally. “He went nine months without seeing his cousin, who is one of his best friends, because of keeping things distant between us, and we live three blocks from each other, so it was a lot,” mom Jen Avram said. “I think what we’re finding out is, advanced as we get technologically, we still need social interaction,” Psychologist Marek Moldawsky said. Moldawsky is a behavioral specialist. He told us anxiety and depression are growing among kids. It’s true for those who go to school and especially so for kids who learn online. “They’re not getting the interactions with the teachers who really help them and look out for them, and they’re not getting the social interactions with their friends,” Moldawsky said. Avram said she noticed changes in her two boys when they studied online, so she made a change. “I insisted that they went back. They needed the interaction,” Moldawksy said. “He’s just happier. You can just see it.” Even with more social interaction, kids in school are feeling more stress as well. There’s less freedom out of fear students might come in contact with someone with COVID-19. “They have difficulty finding ways to manage those issues now because their activity levels are restricted,” Moldawsky said. Schools are great places for parents to reach out to if they feel children are struggling. There are resources available there.