Repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on preschoolers’ occupations

Abstract

Introduction The physical distancing resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic led to home confinement and altered the usual ways in which children’s occupations were conducted, depriving them of experiences that promote development. Objective To identify the repercussions of the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic on the preschoolers’ occupations. Method A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study conducted with 35 guardians of 3-year-old preschoolers from the city of Rio de Janeiro. A self-administered questionnaire was used to investigate changes in children's occupations during the initial phase of the pandemic. Results Changes occurred in all occupations investigated: interaction with peers (100%), relatives (94.2%), and participants (91.4%); leisure (97.1%); play (91.4%); eating (88.6%); screen activities (88.6%); physical activities (80%); and sleep (68.6%). There was a reduction/absence of playing in outdoor environments, greater demand for adult participation in play, absence of play with peers, and increased time spent on electronic play. Leisure became less frequent, more restricted, and screen-oriented. Thus, the daily screen exposure time increased. There was a significant absence/decrease of in-person interaction with peers and relatives, a decrease in physical activities (frequency and variety), difficulty in maintaining an organized eating routine, and changes in sleep schedules. These results are discussed and corroborated by current literature on the subject. Conclusion During the initial phase of the pandemic, when physical distancing was more stringent, children faced significant restrictions in their occupations, with limitations in the diversity, quantity, and quality of opportunities for their full development. Therefore, the experience of the pandemic context may have been acted as a hindering force in children’s development.