Purpose: The COVID-19 lockdown placed unprecedented restrictions on the behaviour and movements of the UK population. Citizens were ordered to ‘stay at home’, only allowed to leave their houses to buy essential supplies, attend medical appointments or to exercise once a day. Children’s everyday routines and behaviours were significantly disrupted. This rapid qualitative study explored the impact of lockdown, and its subsequent easing, on young children’s food intake, physical activity and sedentary behaviours.

Methods: In July/August 2020, we interviewed 20 parents of children due to start school in September 2020 (aged 3-4 years) by phone or video call. Participants were recruited through nurseries and local Facebook community groups in the South West and West Midlands. Half the sample were from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, and half lived in the most deprived IMD quintile. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Parents reported children ate more snacks during lockdown, which was often related to boredom or offering ‘treats’ to compensate for COVID-19 restrictions. Parents also reported spending more time preparing meals and eating as a family. Most parents noted a substantial reduction in children’s physical activity, with this particularly felt by those without access to gardens. Children’s screen time increased significantly as parents juggled childcare, jobs and housework, alongside the stress of parenting in a pandemic. Most parents felt changes in snacking, physical activity and screen time were temporary and would have no lasting impact. Others worried about loss of physical skills/stamina and an increased reliance on screens.

Conclusions: During lockdown and its easing, pre-school children increased their snacking and screen time, while decreasing their physical activity. The longer-term impact of this is unknown but parents may need support during future restrictions to maintain healthy family behaviours.

Purpose: The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented restrictions on children’s ability to participate in adequate movement behaviours. This international longitudinal study compared young children’s physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep behaviours before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Parents of children aged 3-5 years, from 14 countries (8 low- and middle-income countries, LMICs) completed surveys to assess changes in physical activity, sedentary behaviour (screen-time) and sleep and how these changes were associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were completed in the 12 months up to March 2020 and again between May and June 2020 (at the height of restrictions). PA, sedentary screen time (SST) and sleep were assessed via parent questionnaire. At Time 2, COVID-19 factors including level of restriction, environmental conditions, and parental stress were measured.

Findings: 948 parents completed the survey at both time points. Children from LMICs were more likely to meet the PA (AdjOR=2.0, 95%CI 1.0 to 3.8) and SST (2.2, CI 1.2 to 3.9) guidelines than their high-income country (HIC) counterparts. Children who could go outside during COVID-19 were more likely to meet all WHO recommendations (AdjOR 3.3, CI 1.1 to 9.8) than those who were not. Children of caregivers with higher compared to lower stress were less likely to meet all three guidelines (0.5, CI 0.3 to 0.9).    

Conclusion: PA and SST levels of children from LMICs have been less impacted by COVID-19 than in HICs. Ensuring children can access an outdoor space, and supporting caregivers’ mental health are important prevention strategies.

Purpose: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, between March-August 2020 Scottish early years settings were closed except to children whose parents were key workers and vulnerable children. There were restrictions on outdoor activities with playgrounds closed, and social contact among households was forbidden. Some restrictions eased in July 2020. This study aimed to explore parental perceptions of COVID-19 restrictions on children’s outdoor activities.

Methods: Parents (n=205) completed an online survey on outdoor play, of which 77 parents (61 female, 16 male) of children aged 2-5 years (3.9±1.0 years) provided free-text entries on the impact of COVID-19 on outdoor activities for their child. Data were analysed deductively based on pre-defined codes relating to the three concepts of the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory: Context (condition, physical/social environment, individual/family factors); Process (Knowledge/beliefs, self-regulation, social facilitation); Outcomes (proximal, distal). Frequencies were calculated on responses to closed questions on COVID-19 restrictions on children’s play habits.

Results: Of the full sample, 139 (68%) indicated that COVID-19 restrictions changed their children’s play habits. Of those, 83 (60%) suggested that children played more often outdoors and 121 (87%) indicated that children played less with friends. Qualitative data confirmed that children spent less time playing outdoors and interacting with peers but suggested that children spent more time outdoors exploring the local area as a family in form of walks and cycles. More outdoor time led to opportunities for children to learn new skills (e.g., bike riding) and some developed a preference for outdoor activities over use of electronic devices. The closure of playgrounds was upsetting for children and some lost confidence at using swings after playgrounds reopened. While some parents felt that social distancing resulted in children becoming shy around other children and adults for some time, other parents observed improved outdoor play with other children when allowed to be with peers again.

Conclusion: COVID-19 restrictions limited play opportunities for children. Parents self-managed this challenge by exposing their children to experiencing the local outdoor environment as a family. The long-term impact of the restrictions on sustained outdoor activities and child development remains to be investigated.