Generation Alpha COVID-19 insights
When we take a moment to think about how young children are doing, we realize that they are not well. In times of COVID-19, we hear many messages about vulnerability, but not really about children themselves. The policies haven't been including children. There is no specific care for children because they are less affected in numbers. But research shows that young infants can also be prone to severe complications. In these times, we are very focused on the health of the elderly and, more specifically, the elderly with medical conditions. Yet we should protect these children like older people. Although young children are dealing for the first time with this kind of disaster, we suspect they are very resilient. They take this trauma with them in their further growth. These children have to deal with feelings like fear, anxiety, and nervousness. COVID-19 can cause not only traumatic consequences for children, but it also creates economic consequences. Many families with children are on their own these days, and this is not always easy.
The impact of recent events is hard for young kids. Explain to them why you can't go out to the playing field. They do not have to go to school but have to stay with their parents at home. Why they cannot see family. In these turbulent times, children also trust their parents to hear important information from them about the pandemic. Children receive news and adapt their behavior accordingly. A study of 500 children aged 12-15 years shows that 96% of them have access to Coronavirus information. 92% of them had already conversations with their parents on the subject and believed that parents are passing on correct information. Research shows that children consider BBC TV as the most reliable source for providing news about this pandemic. However, social media also appears to be an essential source for providing information.Just under half of the children mainly choose the social media channels Youtube (20%) and Instagram (18%) as their primary channel.
Nevertheless, there is a part of the children who do not have clear information about what is real and what is not right about this Coronavirus. The children also appreciate the support they get from the NHS. As the lockdown evolved, parents always received the correct information from the NHS that they forwarded or shared accordingly. As a result, the amount of false or misleading information has also declined over time.