Children Are Back to School, but Is Play Still in Lockdown? Play Experiences, Social Interactions, and Children’s Quality of Life in Primary Education in the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

Ana Lourenço, Fernando Martins, Beatriz Pereira and Rui Mendes
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Ana Lourenço: Research Centre on Child Studies, Institute of Education (CIEC-IE), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Fernando Martins: UNICID-Applied Sport Sciences Research Unit (ASSERT), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal
Beatriz Pereira: Research Centre on Child Studies, Institute of Education (CIEC-IE), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Rui Mendes: UNICID-Applied Sport Sciences Research Unit (ASSERT), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: The right to play is crucial for the overall development of children. Several studies highlight the need to have time and space to play, especially at school where children spend much of their time. Unfortunately, in formal education the obsession with academic achievements sidelines and ignores the importance of play. The neglection of play had already reached a critical stage before the pandemic, so data are needed to realize how the right to play in school is presently affected. This paper aims to understand children’s play experience in primary education during the pandemic. It investigates what activities children participated in and what materials were used, and provides insight into the social interactions between peers. Furthermore, children’s quality of life is explored. A group of 370 Portuguese children answered a questionnaire on play and social interactions, alongside with Peds 4.0 TM on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The results showed that recess still emerges as a significant element of children’s daily lives, but COVID-19 has brought limitations on play experiences and peer-interaction. It might also have impacted HRQOL, especially in emotional functioning. Since play, health and well-being are closely connected, play opportunities at school are crucial in helping children to thrive in the pandemic, and should be invested in.

Keywords: children; COVID-19; HRQOL; play; primary education; school; peers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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