The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s occupations

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the daily lives and limited everyday activities of children worldwide. OBJECTIVES: To document the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s occupations, the associated factors, and the impact on children’s health, wellbeing, and development. METHODS: A narrative review was conducted by searching four databases (Scopus, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews). RESULTS: A total of 35 articles met the inclusion criteria. Out of the 34 articles, 23 were relevant to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on occupations related to leisure (n = 17), productivity (n = 11), and self-care (n = 9). Ten articles highlighted specific factors that had been linked to changes in occupational engagement and child behavior. Ten articles focused on the impact of occupational disruption during COVID-19 on health, wellbeing, and general development. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have had a negative impact on children’s occupations, while the restrictions were still in effect. Further research is needed to establish reliable conclusions.