Impact of COVID-19 on Children’s Leisure Experiences: Fathers’ Perspectives

• In Event: Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: PS 12 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Children’s engagement in play, outdoor recreation, and leisure has important developmental implications (Caldwell & Witt, 2011; Ewert et al., 2014). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, children’s leisure opportunities have significantly changed. The purpose of our study is to explore: a) the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on 7-12 year old children’s leisure experiences, as perceived by their fathers; and b) how fathers use outdoor experiences to support child development during the COVID-19 pandemic. We utilize Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model (1979, 2005) to help explain the impact of COVID-19 on middle childhood youths’ development.

Fathers (n = 20) of 7-12 year olds from both rural and urban areas participated in the study. They primarily identified as European American (81%) and were between the ages of 35-50 (M = 42.9). Semi-structured interviews (averaging 45-65 minutes) were conducted that asked questions about changes in leisure activities experienced by their children, as well as how they used outdoor activities to support child development during COVID-19. Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) in combination with grounded theory techniques (Charmaz, 2010) were utilized to identify themes and patterns in the data.

Our findings showed several changes in children’s leisure activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. First, fathers reported changes to their children’s social leisure activities including cancelled sports programs and summer camps, closures of recreation facilities, and a discontinuation of play with friends. Fathers expressed concern regarding these changes and their long-term impact on their children(s) development.

Second, fathers reported increased family time and the potential long-term impacts it would have on their relationships as a family. They reported both, increased agitation between family members and appreciation for an increase in quality of time due to the removal of outside distractions. Many shared how this caused them to re-evaluate their lives and how they spend quality family time together.

Third, fathers also reported an increase in the usage of technology by their children. Common activities included Zooming with friends, creating Tik Tok videos, streaming video games, playing on tablets, watching movies, and engaging with educational programs. Technology became children’s primary way to participate in distance learning and to connect with friends and family.

Fourth, almost every father reported an increase in outdoor activities with their children during COVID-19. To substitute for organized activities and public space closures, fathers organized a variety of opportunities for their children to be outdoors.

Our findings also revealed that by spending time with their children outdoors fathers aimed to promote positive development. Fathers described how getting their children outdoors was “essential to their wellbeing” and “healthy in their [child’s] development as a whole person [physically, cognitively, emotionally]”. Findings showed that being outdoors helped children to exercise and stay healthy, and feel a sense of normalcy.

Findings complement and extend existing research and the Ecological theory by highlighting the importance of leisure and outdoor recreation in reinforcing healthy child development, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when opportunities for organized recreation and social interaction may be limited.

Authors

• Dina Izenstark, San José State University
  Presenting Author

• Iryna Sharaievska, Clemson University
  Non-Presenting Author