Behavioral and Emotional Changes in Early Childhood during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Abstrak: Pandemi Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) mengakibatkan perubahan yang besar terhadap gaya hidup sehari-hari, termasuk pada anak usia dini. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui dampak lockdown (karantina wilayah) akibat pandemi Covid-19 pada perilaku dan emosi anak usia dini (usia 0-8 tahun), serta kegiatan rutin sehari-hari seperti aktivitas fisik, screen time, dan pola tidur. Penelitian ini merupakan suatu literature review dengan menggunakan database Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, dan PubMed. Terdapat 15 literatur yang dipublikasi dalam bahasa Ingggris atau Indonesiaselang April 2020 dan Maret 2021. Literatur dalam penelitian ini melaporkan tentang perubahan perilaku dan emosi pada anak usia dini. Peningkatan perilaku eksternalisasi dan internalisasi serta perubahan waktu aktivitas fisik dan pola tidur juga dilaporkan pada banyak studi tersebut. Selain itu, terdapat peningkatan screen time selama lockdown. Simpulan penelitian ini ialah lockdown dapat memengaruhi baik pola tidur dan aktivitas fisik maupun kemampuan mengontrol emosi pada anak usia dini.Kata kunci: COVID-19, lockdown, keterbatasan, anak usia dini, perubahan perilaku Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic demanded great changes in the everyday lifestyle of people, including children in their early years.This study was aimed toobtain the impact of COVID-19 confinement in young children’s (age 0-8 years) behavior and emotion, along with their daily routines such as physical activity, screen time, and sleep pattern. This was a literature review study using databases of Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. The results showed that there were 15 studies published in English or Indonesian between April 2020 and March 2021 included in this review. The studies reported behavioral and emotional changes in the early life of children. An increase in externalizing and internalizing behavior along with a shift in physical activity and sleep behavior was reported in many of the studies. There was an increase in screen time during lockdown. In conclusion, lockdown can affect not only children’s normal behavior in their sleep and physical activity but also their capability of controlling their emotion.Keywords: COVID-19, lockdown, confinement, early childhood, behavioral changes