During lockdown as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, PlayBoard was in regular contact with children, parents and childcare practitioners as we sought to provide essential support and guidance. Through those interactions the impact of the restrictions on the health, well-being, education, and development of children and young people was becoming increasingly evident.

Based on these concerns, and to get a better understanding of the impact of lockdown on their lives, in June 2020 PlayBoard, alongside researchers from Ulster University, initiated a research project to capture the voices of children and young people.

Research was undertaken between June and August 2020 with an online survey targeted specifically for completion by children and young people themselves, or with the help of a parent/carer. This summary report presents the findings of the research in terms of the impact of restrictions on children and young people’s play, their mental health, and their education.