Children and the Pandemic: Anxiety, Hopes and Everyday Life

Abstract

The pandemic, quarantine and other consequences of COVID-19 affecting the world have inevitably impacted upon the lives of adults and children, causing lifestyle changes and, in some instances, negative psychical states. The article presents the results of an empirical study of children’s everyday life and childhood experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data have been collected by structured interview with children aged 10-16. The informants live in a small town of Russia’s Far East. The responses received have been analysed in terms of sources of information on the coronavirus, changes in the lives of children and their attitudes to these changes. Children’s everyday life during the pandemic turns out to be embedded in the selfisolation regime. All worries and hopes of children are related to the end of this regime. Self-isolation has led many respondents to reassess live communication with their peers, offline studies at school and meaningful communication within the family.