The Children’s Parliament in Scotland has been asking 8- to 14- year-olds about experiences of lockdown and the return to school. As well as a monthly wellbeing survey, they have also been playing their part as journalists, publishing their work in the Corona Times Journal.

Throughout lockdown, Corona Times journalists became increasingly less enamoured about learning at home. The best support that children said they could draw on came from parents and carers, but lockdown really was a long haul.

In their words, here are what some of the young journalists - who use pseudonyms - had to say:

I feel a bit happier because I see my mummy more, but sometimes I feel sad or angry too because we can’t do the things that we usually do…The not-so-good things are me and my mummy can argue a bit because we’re stuck together, like someone put glue on us and we’re trapped together…It’s hard to be a kid under lockdown because our lives have changed so much and it’s annoying and sad and scary. (Beluga8, age 8)

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I was alright with lockdown. Some things I needed a break from anyway, like having to get up earlier in the morning and lots of school work, but I missed seeing other people. It was all bit of positive and a bit negative. (Mr. Cheese, age 11)

What can we expect of schools now that children have returned? After such a period of disruption, it was the hope of many that there would be a strong commitment to what we might think of as a “recovery curriculum” - with time to reflect on what has happened and refresh relationships and approaches to learning. In the latest Corona Times Journal, children report different experiences:

We didn’t really talk about anything, about what it’s been like, just got back to school and that’s it. Even during lockdown they just sent stuff and we didn’t really talk about lockdown. (Skateboard Skater, age 13)

We’ve been doing a lot of health and wellbeing activities, which is good and fun. At the start of the term, we did a worksheet and a story about what we did during lockdown and we shared them with the rest of the class. I think it was interesting to hear what everyone else did and how they kept themselves safe. (Beluga8, age 8)

Well, some people have been stressing out and my teacher has given us this helpful thing called “30-3-30”. If you’re annoyed or stressed in class, you’re to do 30 seconds of anything that will help calm you down. Then, if you’re still feeling stressed you do three minutes and, after that, 30 minutes. It’s a really good thing. Lots of people in my class have been stressed because of the way that coronavirus is going. (Ringtone, age 11)

The Children’s Parliament has been bringing children’s lived experience of the pandemic to adults including decision makers. Why should that matter? Over to one of the journalists:

I want adults to understand that they could be a bit more supportive. They should talk to children a bit more and ask them how they are doing. If a child isn’t doing well just ask them how they’re not doing well and try to help to make them feel better. I’d want everyone to be healthier, keeping good hygiene and make sure everyone knows how to stay safe. (Zoomer, age 10)

Educators, parents and carers can still help get children involved in the final “How are you doing?” survey, which closes on 9 October.

Colin Morrison is co-director of the Children’s Parliament in Scotland