Lockdown Experiences of 10–13 Year Olds in New Zealand

The implementation of lockdowns that include the closure of educational facilities for face to face teaching has been one of the strategies used internationally to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Research suggests lockdowns are associated with negative impacts on children’s psycho-social functioning, Most research, however, has been conducted in countries where extended lockdown periods have been in place and has primarily used parent/child survey to gain insight into lockdown effects. The current study was conducted in the context of New Zealand’s initial 7-week national lockdown which allowed examination of the impact of a relatively short lockdown period. Participants (n = 139) aged 10 to 13 years from one school were interviewed face to face about their experiences during lockdown immediately following the re-opening of schools. Participants’ self-concept was also evaluated to gain an understanding of their psycho-social skills after lockdown. Qualitative analysis identified positive and negative features of lockdown from children’s perspectives. Analysis also focused on changes to children’s relationships with close family members during lockdown. The findings have implications for identifying how to optimise lockdown experiences for children.