Seeing lockdown through the eyes of children from around the world: Reflecting on a children's artwork project

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges for children including access to education and limiting social and emotional connections to extended family, friends, and the community. Globally, opportunities for sharing children's self-reported experiences during lockdown were limited. The primary aim of this project was to create an art-E-Book that reflects children's experiences of life during the COVID-19 pandemic that could be shared with other children around the world. Secondly, we wanted to reflect on the consultation undertaken within the International Network of Child and Family Centered Care (INCFCC) using Gibbs (1988) reflective cycle framework. Children from around the world were invited to submit a piece of artwork that reflected their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic via a Qualtrics-survey in May 2020. The children's artwork and written pieces were transcribed verbatim into an E-Book and the artwork was further placed into groups based on similarity of meaning. Fifty-five children from 17 countries submitted an artwork piece. Four groups were evident within the children's artwork including infection control measures, positive experiences and emotions (connection to family, fun activities), negative experiences and emotions (social impact, emotional impact), and uniting children globally. The E-Book is available to download free of charge via the INCFCC website. The E-Book illustrates how children of all ages can provide meaningful insightful commentary and valuable information on their experiences during an unprecedented pandemic.

COVID‐19 in Western Australia: ‘The last straw’ and hopes for a ‘new normal’ for parents of children with long‐term conditions

“…48,49 An international study exploring the experiences of lockdown through children's artwork created an ebook reflecting children's experiences during COVID-19. 48 It was recommended that healthcare professionals need to support the child's health literacy, make them feel secure and take into consideration their hopes, fears and worries. 48 The authors suggest that the ebook may assist with starting conversations with children about the impact of COVID-19.…”

“…48 It was recommended that healthcare professionals need to support the child's health literacy, make them feel secure and take into consideration their hopes, fears and worries. 48 The authors suggest that the ebook may assist with starting conversations with children about the impact of COVID-19.…”

“…The current study suggested that some children had become distressed with the threat of COVID and the changes to their routines. Child and family distress have been noted to be heightened due to the messages about the use of handwashing, sanitisers, mask use, social distancing and so forth 48 . Children and young people's experiences in WA and internationally have been explored during COVID‐19 through open‐ended surveys and drawings 48,49 .…”

“…Child and family distress have been noted to be heightened due to the messages about the use of handwashing, sanitisers, mask use, social distancing and so forth 48 . Children and young people's experiences in WA and internationally have been explored during COVID‐19 through open‐ended surveys and drawings 48,49 . An international study exploring the experiences of lockdown through children's artwork created an ebook reflecting children's experiences during COVID‐19 48 .…”

“…Children and young people's experiences in WA and internationally have been explored during COVID‐19 through open‐ended surveys and drawings 48,49 . An international study exploring the experiences of lockdown through children's artwork created an ebook reflecting children's experiences during COVID‐19 48 . It was recommended that healthcare professionals need to support the child's health literacy, make them feel secure and take into consideration their hopes, fears and worries 48 .…”