Youngsters find it difficult to adjust to the ‘new normal’

Even as lockdown is easing, we can’t deny the lasting impact that it has had on children. Children and young people have had their childhoods put on hold while the country has gone into lockdown.

Their usual routines of school and clubs, visiting friends and family were all stopped almost overnight. And now, young people are telling us how they are finding it difficult to adjust to the ‘new normal’.

At Childline, we’ve seen an increase in young children getting in touch about their mental health and emotional wellbeing since lockdown began. There have been nearly 22,000 counselling sessions about mental health concerns in that time, with counselling sessions going up by 37% for 11-year-olds and under compared to before the lockdown.

We can’t underestimate how this has and will affect children. One young person told Childline: “I feel like the lockdown has ruined everything. I couldn’t wait to get my exams over so that I could leave everything behind, have a great summer, and go to my new sixth form to start over. And now I can’t.”

That’s why, at the NSPCC, we’re calling on the Government to put children on a par with health and the economy when it comes to recovery including additional investment in support for children’s mental health and wellbeing in schools.

There’s a lot of uncertainty in the world right now. But there are ways that you can work with your child to help ease the pressure of the ‘new normal’.

A good way you could start is by encouraging your child to talk to you or another trusted adult about how they’re feeling. Create a space free from distractions, and let them know that you’re listening.

Let them express their feelings how they want to, which might include talking, or even drawing or acting it out with toys.

The conversation may be tricky, and you may not be able to answer all the questions your children are asking. But while having difficult conversations is hard, if you handle it well it can bring you and your child closer.

Children can contact Childline for free counselling on 0800 1111 or at Childline.org. uk.