Children’s Play in Pandemic Times
Written by Anne Burke, Memorial University One of the most striking aspects of childhood in the modern age is the growing trend towards children spending the vast majority of their time indoors. Although the health benefits of outdoor play are well known, the reality of busy parents who rely on schools and after-schools for care is keeping children indoors for most of their days, a trend called “indoorification” (Forest School Canada, 2014, p. 5). As pandemic lockdowns kept children home and in their houses for weeks and months, this trend became even more prevalent. The Covid-19 pandemic aside, children spending more time indoors is a result of a number of societal factors. Academic expectations placed on children has lead to less time spent outside on the average school day, as schools place a higher priority maintaining high standardized test scores in reading and mathematic outcomes. Growing numbers of two-parent working families depend on organized childcare and after-school ac