COVID-19 has changed the way we all live our lives. For children, the pandemic has meant that schooling has been disrupted, playtime with friends has been restricted and time spent at home has dramatically increased.
No school, disrupted routines
As schools closed down across the country, parents were asked to homeschool their children to ensure that young people continued to learn during the lockdown.
Without school start times to get up and out of the house for, keeping to a routine became increasingly difficult.
This, coupled with not being able to see and play with friends in person, meant that many children may have felt unsettled and lonely during lockdown, despite their parents’ best attempts to make them feel otherwise.
Social distancing at school – what are the long-term effects?
Even though children have now started returning to school, there are still social distancing measures in place. A whole generation will grow up having to keep their distance from others.
What will be the long-term effects of this pandemic on our young people? At the moment, we can only speculate. To an extent, the answer depends on how long we have to deal with this illness (and any others which may rear their heads).
Home is not a safe haven for every child
Following the release of a new report into the family justice system, journalist Louise Tickle recently wrote a piece for The Guardian in which she accused Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) of failing ‘to protect children from abusive parents’.
The report highlighted the difficult reality that some children face at home and issues which must be addressed, both now and after the pandemic is over.
Having to stay at home for prolonged periods of time can be difficult for anyone. If a child has abusive parents, remaining in a house with those parents during the pandemic could have serious consequences.
The new normal
As the pandemic evolves, so do our ways of coping. Children are remarkably adaptable and we hope that, with the right help, every child will learn to live in this ‘new normal’ world. Perhaps they may even adapt better than adults.
We understand that in this difficult time you may have concerns about how the combined impact of the pandemic and any family or relationship difficulties you may be experiencing will affect your children. Here at Grayfords, we are offering all clients complimentary video consultations to ensure they’re still able to obtain legal advice from one of our experienced family solicitors during this difficult time. For families dealing with separation and divorce, the pandemic has only served to complicate their lives even further. Get in touch to find out how we could help.