With India on coronavirus lockdown, are families feeling the strain? It has been more than 15 days since India shut its $2.9 trillion economy, issuing strict stay-at-home orders to more than a billion people. Now as the country’s government looks to extend the rigorous 21-day lockdown, how will it impact parenting?

According to a UN Women report released in 2019, nearly 80% of households in India include couples - or extended families - living with children. Is it easy to manage work, home chores, taking care of the elderly and keeping children engaged?

While most of the emotional pressure-cooker points have clearly defined exits – like stepping out for work, socialising with friends – it’s not the case with the ongoing lockdown. Is it leaving parents seething with irritability or bringing them serenely closer than ever before? Are they taking this time to celebrate with children and contemplate life or is the uncertainty an ingredient for increased stress?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss how parents are keeping their kids engaged during the coronavirus lockdown.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Neerja Birla, founder and chairperson, Mpower; Divya Gokulnath, cofounder, Byju's; Ritika Kumar, cofounder and CEO, The Young Chronicle