The Covid-19 pandemic, an unprecedented global crisis, reshaped societies worldwide. For children in Britain, the pandemic’s impact was profound and multifaceted. School closures, remote learning, disrupted routines, and social isolation left lasting effects on their education, mental health, and social development. Five years on, children in Britain continue to grapple with uncertainty, increased screen use, anxiety, and disrupted social and educational experiences.
The Terrifying Shift: School Closures and Online Learning
When the UK government announced school closures in early 2020, it marked a dramatic shift in children’s lives. The immediate transition to online learning aimed to maintain educational continuity while ensuring children’s physical safety. However, as Professor Lucy Easthope, a disaster expert, noted, the government’s planning focused narrowly on safety without considering the broader implications. The lockdown created a ripple effect: increased risks of domestic abuse for children and a breakdown of trust between schools and parents.
Easthope highlighted that the pandemic disrupted the “social contract” between parents and schools, affecting children’s willingness to return to classrooms. Even five years later, schools face “terrifyingly high levels of school avoidance,” with many parents questioning the value of formal education after years of disruption.
Educational Setbacks and Developmental Delays
The educational impact was immediate and widespread. Children missed critical learning milestones, and for younger children, crucial developmental stages were delayed. Covid babies—those born during or shortly before the pandemic—are now struggling to meet basic developmental milestones due to reduced social interaction and limited access to early childhood education services.
By 2025, 1.6 million children in England remain persistently absent from school, reflecting a significant long-term educational impact. The digital divide exacerbated educational inequality, as students from lower-income families lacked access to necessary devices and reliable internet connections. The closure of schools also disrupted special needs education, widening the attainment gap between disadvantaged students and their peers.
Mental Health Crisis: Anxiety and Loneliness
One of the most significant legacies of the pandemic is the mental health crisis among children and young people. The transition to online learning and social isolation triggered anxiety, depression, and loneliness. The Children’s Commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, reported that one in five children experiences common mental health problems, with anxiety and depression being the most prevalent.
Felix, a university student, shared how the lockdown stunted his social development and left him feeling profoundly isolated. University campuses closed, lectures shifted online, and the absence of social interaction during formative years had long-lasting effects on students like Felix, who described feeling “robbed” by both the government and educational institutions.
Professor Easthope observed that the pandemic instilled lasting anxiety in parents, who became hyper-vigilant about their children’s safety. This anxiety has been passed on to children, affecting their overall sense of security and well-being.
Screen Time Surge: The Double-Edged Sword
Online learning necessitated increased screen use, which drastically changed children’s relationship with technology. During lockdown, children juggled multiple devices: laptops for lessons, tablets for educational resources, and smartphones for communication. This shift, while necessary for education continuity, had unforeseen consequences.
Professor Easthope recalled the sinking feeling of watching her five-year-old use three devices simultaneously for online learning. Post-pandemic, the reliance on screens persisted. Some older students, now in their late teens, feel they cannot function without constant access to their devices. Schools have attempted to curb screen dependency by restricting phone use, but the pandemic’s imprint on children’s digital habits remains.
The surge in screen time also raised concerns about online safety. With education and social lives shifting online, children became more susceptible to online risks, including cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and privacy issues. The Children’s Commissioner highlighted the urgent need for robust online safety regulations to protect young users.
Social Development and Isolation: The Lost Years
Social interaction is vital for children’s emotional and social development. The pandemic’s social distancing measures and school closures deprived children of essential peer interactions, affecting their social skills and emotional intelligence.
Frank Cottrell-Boyce, the Children’s Laureate, drew parallels between children’s pandemic experiences and child evacuees during World War II. Just as evacuees carried the trauma of separation and fear into adulthood, children today bear the emotional scars of Covid-induced isolation. The inability to play, socialize, and participate in school activities has left lasting marks on their social development.
Teachers reported that children exhibited behavior similar to toddlers: difficulty sharing, managing emotions, and participating in group activities. The absence of normal social experiences created a sense of loss that many children continue to feel.
The Educational Divide: Disparities in Learning
The pandemic magnified educational inequalities. Children from low-income families faced challenges accessing online learning due to inadequate devices and internet connectivity. The “attainment gap” between affluent and disadvantaged students widened, affecting long-term educational outcomes.
Special needs students were disproportionately affected. Disruptions in specialized support services and tailored educational resources hindered their learning progress. The cost of remedial education and mental health support for affected children adds to the financial strain on families already struggling due to the cost of living crisis.
Health and Well-being: More Than Just Mental Health
Covid’s impact on children extended beyond mental health and education. The closure of sexual health clinics and interruptions to sex education led to a rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young people. The lack of access to health services and educational programs during lockdown periods resulted in gaps in essential health knowledge and care.
Additionally, physical health suffered due to reduced physical activity during lockdown. Restrictions on outdoor play and organized sports led to increased sedentary behavior, contributing to rising childhood obesity rates.
Parental Anxiety and Family Dynamics
The pandemic heightened parental anxiety, affecting family dynamics and children’s emotional well-being. Parents worried about their children’s health, education, and future in an uncertain world. This anxiety often translated into overprotectiveness, affecting children’s sense of independence and resilience.
Professor Easthope highlighted an incident where a mother dramatically warned her child about an open rucksack, exemplifying the heightened parental anxiety shaped by disaster experiences. Such anxiety impacts children’s perceptions of safety and autonomy, influencing their long-term psychological health.
Government Response and Public Trust
The pandemic eroded public trust in government institutions. Felix expressed a sense of betrayal by the government and educational institutions for failing to support students during the crisis. The inconsistent messaging and policy shifts during the pandemic contributed to public skepticism.
The Children’s Commissioner emphasized the importance of involving children in decisions affecting their education and future. Ensuring children’s voices are heard in policymaking processes is crucial for rebuilding trust and addressing the educational and mental health fallout.
Rebuilding Education and Mental Health Services
As Britain continues to recover, educational institutions and policymakers face the challenge of addressing learning loss and mental health issues. Schools are implementing catch-up programs, providing additional support for students with learning gaps, and enhancing mental health services.
Efforts to reduce absenteeism include targeted outreach programs and parental engagement initiatives. Addressing the long waits for mental health care services is a priority, as is improving the oversight of children missing from education.
The Role of Play and Community in Recovery
One positive outcome of the pandemic was a renewed appreciation for the importance of play in children’s development. Professor Helen Dodd noted that lockdown highlighted the need for children to play together, an essential component of social and emotional growth.
Frank Cottrell-Boyce remains optimistic, hoping that children will carry forward the sense of community and resilience fostered during the pandemic. The pandemic underscored the importance of societal connections and mutual support, values that are crucial for children’s recovery and future well-being.
A Generation Forever Changed
The Covid-19 pandemic left an indelible mark on Britain’s children. The disruption in education, social isolation, increased anxiety, and altered relationship with technology have shaped a generation in unique ways. As the country works to rebuild and address these challenges, it is crucial to prioritize children’s educational recovery, mental health, and social well-being. The pandemic taught the nation a vital lesson: the importance of listening to children and ensuring their voices shape the future.
