The Time Machine to Neverland: A Multiple-Case Study Exploration of the Impact of the Covid-19 Lockdown on Childhood and Development
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Authors
Laakso, Elyse
Issue Date
2024-05-01
Type
thesis_open
Language
Keywords
coronavirus , emotional regulation , education , impulse control , play , mental health , Child Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Development Studies
Early Childhood Education
Educational Methods
Educational Psychology
Elementary Education
Other Education
Personality and Social Contexts
Psychology
School Psychology
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Social Psychology
Social Work
Alternative Title
Child Development Theses
Abstract
The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown of 2020 impacted the world profoundly, both on global and individual levels. In many respects, the world returned to “normal” in the ensuing years. However, what does “normal” mean for a child whose development was interrupted by lockdown, depriving them of experiences that they would have otherwise encountered on their developmental trajectory? How might the impacts of such an interruption manifest in subsequent years? This thesis explores some such potential consequences, utilizing a multiple-case study design to explore the intersection between early childhood developmental theory and the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020. For this study, individual therapy sessions were conducted with two fourth graders (aged 9-10) throughout the course of their academic year. These children experienced lockdown in early childhood, a developmental stage during which new forms of play and socialization are typically explored in collective settings. Findings indicate that deprivation of peer interaction in early childhood as a result of mandatory social isolation and school closures have potential to impact emotional regulation, academic capacities, and one’s relationship to rules and boundaries in middle childhood. Lastly, this thesis offers further directions for exploration in an effort to mitigate further stress on children, teachers, and caregivers.
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