DOI: https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.1696 1 2 Prolonged lockdown: psychological risk factors among children 3 and their mental health 4 5 Uzma Ilyas, Rabia Farooqi 6 Department of Psychology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. 7 Correspondence: Uzma Ilyas. Email: uzma.ilyas@ucp.edu.pk 8 9 Abstract 10 The most talked phenomenon and sui generis of the modern time, the 11 coronavirus diseases-2019 impacted individuals in a variety of ways. Older 12 adults had a higher risk of vulnerability, while there were negative ramifications 13 among children due to indirect impact. The preventive measures, including 14 closing down of schools, malls and playgrounds as well as practising social 15 distancing served as a shield against the hazard of outbreak. On the contrary, 16 these strategies inculcated fear, anxiety, ambiguous communication and 17 manifestation of externalizing behaviours in children. Children living in 18 dysfunctional families in underprivileged circumstances were more susceptible 19 to abuse during the pandemic, and had increased risk of behavioural 20 symptomology and psychological morbidities. Challenges brought by the new 21 normal for children requires redefining the role of parenting for effective 22 monitoring and intervention to mitigate the symptoms. Preventive strategies 23 outlined by international scientific communities include reflective listening, 24 debriefing and psychological first aid for effective parenting during the ongoing 25 pandemic. 26 Key Words: Children, Anxiety, Appetite, Sleep, Mental health, COVID-19, 27 First aid. 28 Provisionally Accepted for Publication