Imagine telling a child they wouldn’t be able to attend school. You might expect to be met with tears, tantrums and confusion. They would understandably be upset at the prospect of losing their structures and support networks for an unforeseen length of time.
This is what children have faced since schools and early learning settings first closed their doors last March: opening and closing over and over again like some sort of revolving door. Separated from their friends, family and all sources of social contact outside of a computer screen, young people have suffered some of the worst effects of lockdown.
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David Butterfield
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People are creatures of habit: we need routine and we rely on the presence of others to lift us up and share our burdens during times of hardship. For so many children, school is a safe place where they can learn and grow with the support of their teachers and peers.
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