COVID kids How our youngest are experiencing the pandemic

Germs weren’t on five-year-old Freddie’s radar before COVID-19. Now they are his “worst enemy”.

He is one of a new generation of children who have learnt that germs can be deadly.

With birthday parties banned, playgrounds intermittently roped off, play dates cancelled and visits with family forbidden, life for our smallest members of society has changed.

Freddie explains he has to socially distance from people by “going that way... further away from me”.

Early childhood experts say birth to five years is a crucial development period, so what happens when their experience of the world is curtailed?

Freddie, 5, draws his understanding of lockdown.Credit:Freddie

The Age spoke to a few children about their understanding and experience of the pandemic.

Ruby, 4, from Footscray, says she is afraid of coronavirus.

“She doesn’t have a fear of COVID-19 itself, she has a fear of getting tested again. If anything she doesn’t like it,” says her mum, Danni Flanagan.

Ruby is not explicitly upset about lockdown but there are definite changes, mostly relating to sleep.

For Maya, 6, lockdown means Zoom calls and walks with her mum wearing a mask.Credit:Maya

“She wants us in bed with her when she doesn’t have childcare,” Ms Flanagan says.

It’s hard to get Ruby down to sleep at night, she needs to burn off extra energy and “wants a lot more cuddles”.

Child and adolescent psychiatry registrar Benjamin Veness says the potential effects of the pandemic on young children differ depending on the child and their family.

“Children respond to the cues of their parents,” he says. “If parents or a single parent are coping well and finding it within themselves to play regularly with their child, then the kid is probably also OK.”

But kids can pick up on the effects of increased stress, job loss and the pressures of juggling school and work at home.

Isla, 6, says coronavirus is “a type of sickness you can get” in which a “drink or a juice ... just tastes like normal water and when you eat, it just tastes like nothing”.

But she’s not scared of it. “It normally doesn’t get to kids because the grown-ups are protecting the little ones from getting it,” she says.

Isla stays safe by being with her family, staying in her house “and washing her hands with lots of soap”.

Isla, 6, draws her experience of lockdown, including how she socialises with friends over the fence. Credit:Isla

She has worked out how to play cards with friends over video chat and is a pro at climbing her fence to chat with the neighbours. She is, however, sick of staring at a screen.

“[The worst part of lockdown] is that you can’t see your friends and normally just sit and watch a screen every day,” she says with a frown.

Dr Veness recommends parents implement routines, talk to their children and explore how they are feeling, including what their impressions of the pandemic are and what questions they may have.

“The important thing is to listen, validate their emotions and play with their child, following the lead of the child in their play. Children use play to make sense of the world. What they are doing in their play will give parents a clue as to how they are thinking and feeling.”

Maya, 6, drew herself going on a walk with her mum while wearing a mask. Credit:Maya

Six-year-old Maya spends an hour on Zoom each day with her prep class and has worksheets she completes independently. Her mum, Oendrila Roy, says it suits Maya well, but not everyone in the class is finding it easy.

A Department of Education and Training spokesperson says online resources and activities have been tailored for young learners, early childhood educators and parents to use at home. But Ms Roy, who is on maternity leave with her second child, says having to supervise a six-year-old who is resistant to studying while juggling a job would be tough.

Kindergartens and schools are working to adapt transition activities to ensure a smooth move to prep and schools’ 2022 programs have been adapted to cater for children who weren’t able to attend four-year-old kinder in person.

Maya takes notice when people aren’t social distancing and she makes sure she uses “hanitiser” (hand sanitiser).

Ruby, 4, draws herself picking flowers in lockdown.

“I think she’s more concerned about those kinds of things than she used to be,” Ms Roy says.

She’s not quite sure if she is scared of the virus but she told the “worry monster” at school that she was concerned her grandparents could contract COVID-19 and get really sick.

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Professor Frank Oberklaid says there is no doubt the pandemic is affecting young kids.

“The government recognises that closing schools, kindergartens and playgrounds has an impact on children and also wants to keep kids safe. It’s a real conundrum. The early years are really important.”

Ruby, Freddie, Isla, Maya, Quincy and Jemima share their experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Oberklaid says early learning environments help build cognitive language skills and social confidence, which are the building blocks for literacy.

Kids from marginalised, disadvantaged communities or those experiencing family violence may be feeling the effects of the lockdown more acutely. And early learning can sometimes build the bridges of what’s lacking at home.

But he also says kids are resilient.

“When kids do experience adversity, particularly if it’s not for extended periods, they do catch up and bounce back if they go into nurturing and stimulating environments,” he says.

Jemima, 5, drew a person with COVID-19 crying in bed.Credit:Jemima

Jemima, 5, thinks the best way to stop the spread of coronavirus is by “kicking it”, “smacking it” and “pouring water on it”. Maya believes everyone should just follow the rules and Isla thinks the key to the end of the pandemic is vaccinations.

While Victoria continues to struggle through lockdown, Dr Veness reassures parents who are already swamped that they “don’t have to be perfect, they can cut themselves a bit of slack”.

And despite the restrictions, there are some positives to lockdown life for these kids.

For Freddie, lockdown means more time on the trampoline; for four-year-old Quincy, more hugs with mum; for Isla, more bike rides and “scoots” with her family.

What’s the best thing about lockdown for Jemima?

“Nothing. Well … actually ... there’s one thing; summery days ... and having hugs when it’s boring and playing with people who I love.”

Parents who are worried about any aspect of their child’s development should contact their GP, their maternal and child health nurse or visit the Raising Children parenting website.

Nicole Precel is a journalist and audio video producer at The Age. She is also a documentary maker.Connect via email.

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