First findings about how children are impacted by COVID-19

Research funded by the OU’s Rapid Response scheme has looked at the impact of COVID-19 on children.

The Open University’s Children’s Research Centre (OUCRC) and psychologist-led Children Heard project have collaborated to analyse survey responses from 240 children aged between 3-12 (48 early years and 192 primary school age participants) on their thoughts, feelings and experiences of living through the COVID-19 pandemic. The report demonstrates how children have varying experiences of the pandemic, both negative and positive, and shares recommendations to involve children and young people in the decisions that directly impact their lives.

Dr Liz Chamberlain, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at The Open University, said: “Children’s lives, identities, relationships are all impacted by the pandemic and yet there is such little opportunity for their voices to be part of the collective response. This report demonstrates the importance of listening to children about their experiences. Our hope is that the findings provide useful starting points for conversations with children, for parents and caregivers, as well as for those working within the fields of child-led research and practice. Children are at the heart of the pandemic and their experiences are shaped and understood in the context of their unique lives and relationships to others.”