Young people ‘frustrated and angry’ in lockdown
CHILDREN and teenagers across Wales have described the devastating impact of a year of pandemic and lockdown restrictions on their lives.
The pandemic has had “a crushing impact” on children and young people, Children’s Commissioner for Wales Professor Sally Holland warned as she released findings of her second survey into how young people are faring during the crisis.
From being stuck in flats without gardens to fears about their education, families and future young people from every council area have described anger, loneliness and frustration as they are unable to go to school or meet friends.
Some said they felt demotivated and depressed. Others missed sports clubs or worried about safety of parents still having to go out to work.
One 10 year-old from north Wales described how she can’t tell anyone how she feels during online school meet-ups: “I have to say [I’m] fine because all my friends are listening on Teams meetings but I just want someone to listen to me.
“My dad shouts all the time coz he lost his job, I know my mum isn’t eating properly coz she gives me her portion.”
Speaking after her office read all 20,000 responses to her survey of how three to 18 year-olds are faring with no news yet of when the latest lockdown will end, Prof Holland warned the pandemic has had “an unequal impact on children and young people”.
She said she was impressed by the support and remote education schools and colleges are providing in the latest lockdown but said she hoped more children and teenagers will be able to go back before Easter.
The Welsh Government said the survey findings will be considered “as a key source of evidence when future decisions are made”.
Four in 10 of the 17-year-olds taking part in her survey said they felt lonely most of the time, while 30% of 17 to 18-year-olds said they felt worried most of the time.
Three to seven-year-olds spoke most about missing friends, family members and experiences. From midteens on, there were signs of additional distress, compounded by worries about exams and their futures
The report “Strong negative were expressed many children and found: feelings by young people; they expressed frustration, and sometimes anger, about the impact of the pandemic on their lives.”
At the moment only some key workers’ and vulnerable children can attend school some of the time, while the rest learn remotely.
The youngest three to seven-year-olds can start returning to classrooms after half-term but the Education Minister and the Deputy Chief Medical Office for Wales last week warned disruption could continue into September The Children’s Commissioner said results of her worrying survey have been shared with the Welsh Government’s Technical Advisory Group, so findings from it can be assessed alongside other scientific evidence for consideration of “how to curb the disruption to children’s lives” with public health policy. It will also be sent to the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) “to provide another dimension to their deliberations on the reopening of schools”. The report found that as well as loneliness, not being able to see friends is having the biggest impact on children’s lives, followed by not being able to see other family members and school and college closures. A worrying 15% of seven and beyond. to 11-year-olds reported feeling lonely “most of the time”.
On learning remotely, more than half of 12 to 18-year-olds said they enjoyed learning at their own pace from home, but many worried about falling behind with learning.
Levels of confidence and motivation with education decreased with age. A large majority of 15 to 18-year-olds are concerned about falling behind and their qualifications, and 69% report low motivation to do schoolwork.
Problems are worse for those who are disadvantaged. Disabled children and teenagers were more likely to worry about coronavirus and feel sad and unsafe.
Those from black, Asian and other ethnic minority groups were more likely to feel lonely and less likely to say they feel safe than their peers.
Some positive experiences were also reported. Many of those taking part in the survey said they enjoyed spending time at home and the support they had from schools and youth workers.
Prof Holland said: “It is obvious from these survey results that, despite the enormous efforts of our schools, colleges, youth workers, social services and health services, the pandemic is having a crushing impact on many young lives. “Yet again, we have seen that the pandemic has had an unequal impact on children and young people and while many have undoubtedly continued to thrive during this period, others have faced numerous struggles.
“It is understandable that the over-riding priority must be on preventing death and serious illness, but these results give a clear road-map for Welsh Government on what needs to be prioritised for children and young people over the next few weeks and months.
“In terms of education, it is clear that children and young people of all ages are missing not only formal learning but also the socialisation and support that school and college has to offer.”
She said when children can return to school the first priority must be time to talk about their experiences and to be with friends. They will also need support with academic subjects.
Tier four restrictions came into force in Wales on December 20 and schools have been shut again since the beginning of this term.
Only vulnerable children and children of key workers can attend.
A review of lockdown restrictions, including decisions on schools and colleges, is made by the Welsh Government every three weeks.
The next review on February 19.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We have worked in partnership with the Children’s Commissioner to undertake this vital piece of work.
“We know the coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on everybody, especially children and young people.
“The first survey results have been used extensively to inform a range of policy decisions from education to recent alert levels.
“The new set of findings will now also be considered as a key source of evidence when future decisions are made.” is due