Lockdown research & reports

Contact with blue-green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown beneficial for mental health

Highlights: • Lockdown severity is positively associated with poor mental health • Nature contact ‘buffers’ the negative effect of lockdown on mental health • People perceived that nature helped them to cope better with lockdown measures • Access to outdoor spaces and nature views associated with more positive emotions. Science of The Total Environment, Vol 756, Feb 2021

Lockdown wellbeing: children who spent more time in nature fared best

Children from less affluent backgrounds are likely to have found COVID-19 lockdowns more challenging to their mental health because they experienced a lower connection with nature than their wealthier peers, a new study suggests. 14 October 2021. Full study below.

Understanding changes to children's connection to nature during the COVID-19 pandemic and implications for child well-being

13 October 2021.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment from Chartham Primary Forest School

An example of a site specific Covid Risk Assessment for Forest School sessions, 'based on the facilities and routines we use to provide up to 2hr sessions for pupils in school.' Mama Beech, 13 August 2020

Playful Schools: The power of Loose Parts Play

"The Playful Schools Project was a pilot project to explore the potential for Loose Parts Play to promote children’s mental health and wellbeing in the context of Covid-19 ... What the research has clearly demonstrated is that the freedom to use the Loose Parts Play in any way they wished enabled children to process, connect and relax."
Play Scotland, August 2020

Impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on movement & play behaviours of Canadian children & youth: a national survey

'This study provides evidence of immediate collateral consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, demonstrating an adverse impact ... The findings highlight the challenge of, but need for, a balance of disease prevention and health promotion efforts specific to integrative movement behaviours.'
BMC, 6 July 2020

Covid19 and Children’s Play Report

“This report summarises emerging evidence on the effects of play restrictions in terms of a) reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the population and b) the detriments to children resulting from the restrictions.” “The benefits to children’s mental health and wellbeing of playing and learning outside together with others far outweigh the minimal risks to them.” Play Scotland, 17 June 2020.

Play After Lockdown

A Play England Briefing “This short document is intended to provide a framework making it possible to address the issues arising from the impact on play of corona virus and help those who will be dealing with the fall-out when the virus has abated and as parents begin to take their children to different play and child-care facilities again.” 15 June 2020.

Children say they will miss the outdoors after lockdown, according to survey

“Playing outside, hearing the birds sing and breathing in cleaner air are some of the things children in the UK will miss the most when lockdown officially ends, according to a new survey.” Newsround, 8 June 2020.

Supporting Children’s Social and Emotional Wellbeing During and After Lockdown (pdf)

“In this document, we make a number of evidence-based recommendations designed to support children’s social and emotional wellbeing. We focus on the need to afford children opportunities to play with peers in the coming weeks and months. Our recommendations are focused, in particular, on the needs of children aged 3 to 11.” Follow Play First on twitter: “Leading UK mental health experts advocating for children’s emotional wellbeing to be prioritised via play when lockdown is eased”

Academics highlight children’s need for street play during lockdown

“A new paper explores the issues around children’s access to space during government restrictions, within the context of the vital importance of play for their wellbeing and resilience.” Rethinking Childhood, 20 April 2020.

Cooped-Up Children Need Car-Free Play Streets, Say Experts

“Play allows children to cope with what life throws at them; it is the responsibility of adults to ensure that they can play safely, inside and out,” Forbes, 19 April 2020.