Coronavirus (COVID-19): impact on children, young people and families - evidence summary October 2020

14. Children's rights and participation

Young people's views on their role in the COVID-19 pandemic and society's recovery from it(Larcher V, Dittborn M, Linthicum J, et al)

Journal: Archives of Disease in Childhood

Date: 31 August 2020

This short study sought to explore how young people see their role in the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings are drawn from a focus group with 15 Children's Hospital Young People's Forum members in May. The main themes and conclusions are summarised below:

• Awareness of pandemic's impact on others: participants showed mature awareness of the effects on broader society, especially the elderly, socially disadvantaged and parents.
• Perceived impact on their own lives: principal concerns were the educational and practical implications of school closures and social isolation, including impacts on educational prospects.
• Views about school reopening: young people understood the broader rationale for school reopening and were generally positive about it, but expressed concerned about their safety and that of others.
• Communication issues: a need for clear, concise, understandable information readily accessible for young people was expressed. Up to now, they felt passive recipients rather than participants.
• As per previous C&F briefings, young people want to be active participants in the recovery, but require appropriate information and a means by which their voices can be heard.