THE COVID KIDS

It's the Covid Kids I feel sorry for. They are unable to be out and about causing trouble, getting up to mischief and generally enjoying themselves, which should always be the case for young people. Being a kid during World War II wasn't easy but there was some respite in the form of evacuation to the country. And of course poverty levels are not what they once were (they are far from ideal, but not what they once were), but hardship is relative and there have been ways to circumnavigate difficulties in the past but not being able to leave the house has it's limitations.

It feels like modern children have been surrounded by 'things' for many years now; most of those things technology based, yet they cannot currently have that fundamental experience of playing with other children, getting out and about and generally building their socialising skills.

What will be the legacy for the Covid Kids? Certainly broader mental health levels will rise as will social anxiety levels.We may also see a decline in emotional intelligence as children spend more time engaging with technology than others.

Not being at school is harming in a number of ways, both academically and in terms of socialisation, and the latter could be the biggest issue post lockdown going into the future for our youth.

What can be done? tough question, but a good start would be to fund youth and play provision during the summer (If we are appropriately placed to do so health wise) and beyond, in order to give children a chance to catch up mentally and physically with being a child. Unfortunately I don't see that happening as the years of systematic cuts to these services has become an institution. 

I wonder what life for an energetic child in a small flat with no outdoor space is like for all concerned. I also wonder how many parents take the technology route to keep their children entertained; after all Screens make excellent child minders.

Mind you, its not easy to dim the flame of youth. Young people are resilient and despite their resilience being tested like no other generation of children in the last 75 years they may very well come out of this inspired to appreciate what the world has to offer and collectively grasp it.