A study on the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the lives of young children is to be carried out.
Researchers at the Department of Psychology in Mary Immaculate College are conducting a new study to assess the impact COVID-19 restrictions have had on how young children play and learn. Led by Dr Suzanne Egan, the study looks at how screen time, story time and outdoor play during the current restrictions on new-born children to those aged ten.
Dr Egan described the change to children’s social worlds over the past two months as ‘dramatic’ with schools, pre-schools and crèches all closed since mid-March. “Trips to the playground, visits to the library, break time in the yard or casually knocking in for a neighbourhood friend to play with out on the street are no longer possible. Restrictions have been placed on who children can physically interact with”.
She explained that the survey is looking to find out at what age children begin to understand the restrictions and social distancing. “We’re hoping to capture the experience of as many parents as possible, particularly those with very young children, infants and toddlers”.
If you have a child age ten or under and would like to participate in the anonymous online survey, click below.
