Children are not likely to become seriously ill from Covid-19, but the pandemic is taking a heavy toll on their mental health, development, and safety, experts warn. With schools closed, many children are losing not only education but also social interaction, emotional support, and a refuge from troubled homes.
Prof Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, told MPs: "When we close schools we close their lives." He highlighted harms including isolation, loneliness, sleep problems, and reduced physical activity, as all children's sport is banned except outdoor activities for under-12s in Scotland.
The NSPCC reports a 10% rise in counselling for loneliness via Childline since the pandemic began. One 16-year-old caller said: "I feel really sad and lonely. Most days I find myself just lost in my own thoughts and feeling numb."
Official data from NHS Digital and the ONS shows one in six children aged five to 16 now has a probable mental health disorder, up from one in nine three years ago. Older girls are most affected. The Prince's Trust Youth Index found over half of 16- to 25-year-olds feel anxious often or always, the highest level recorded.
Health visitors warn of harm to babies' development, as services have been cut and social contact lost. Alison Morton, head of the Institute of Health Visiting, said the first 1,001 days are crucial, and many families have received only online support.
