Study finds many children returning to school are fearful of COVID-19

After months away from their teachers and classmates, a new study is highlighting how young children feel about returning to school during a pandemic.

The in-depth research out of Brock University finds many are worried about becoming sick or bringing COVID-19 home to their families.

“As families and teachers prepare for children to go back to school, either in-person or online, we have generally not heard from children themselves about their views of the pandemic, their experiences of online schooling in the spring, and their thoughts about going back to school,” says Professor of Child and Youth Studies, Rebecca Raby.

Raby is leading a research team that began a study in early April consisting of regular online interviews with 30 children and youth about their experiences at home during the pandemic, including online schooling.

She says in late May, children shared with the team their back-to-school hopes and fears.

“A lot of the children we talked to were really aware of the pandemic and of what you need to do to stay safe, and they were worried about other people not following the rules,” Raby adds. “It’s important to recognize and honour children’s knowledge and insights in their thinking right now.”

An eight-year-old girl also shared her thoughts on what recess might look like.

“No games of tag, of course,” she said.

“Maybe you can use a stick. I think that using a stick with tag is the only way to play the game. You can also play basketball, but if someone touches our ball with their hand, with their hands on it, oh no, they won’t. So no basketball courts, so maybe there won’t be any recess.”

Raby says, besides her study, there has been little research on children’s experiences and perspectives of the pandemic and return to school.