Play during the pandemic

Abstract

Play is an integral part of childhood which is done for the sake of enjoyment but also confers many benefits. For young children who attend childcare, preschool, and elementary school, play is frequently done outside the home and with peers. The public health measures of the COVID-19 pandemic confined many families to their homes while parents had to continue to meet demands of work and home responsibilities. We surveyed (n = 175) and interviewed (n = 62) a convenience sample of parents of young children (aged 1–8) in the USA about how their children’s play was affected. Parents shared concerns that their children missed opportunities for social play. Parents reported novel efforts to facilitate their children’s play, including rearranging furniture, repurposing spaces, and providing new toys. While at home, children’s play increased in every room of the house; they played more with family members; and their preference for technology toys increased from an already high rank. Play times shifted toward earlier in the day. Parents reported that play activities included physical activity, seated play, screen time, and creative activities. In interview, parents observed that the content of play reflected themes of the pandemic (such as mask-wearing) and a desire for normalcy (such as playing school).