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A rapid review of the impact of quarantine and restricted environments on children's play and the role of play in children's health
Author(s) -
Graber Kelsey M.,
Byrne Elizabeth M.,
Goodacre Emily J.,
Kirby Natalie,
Kulkarni Krishna,
O'Farrelly Christine,
Ramchandani Paul G.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
child: care, health and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1365-2214
pISSN - 0305-1862
DOI - 10.1111/cch.12832
Subject(s) - isolation (microbiology) , quarantine , outbreak , pandemic , intervention (counseling) , disease , social isolation , refugee , psychology , covid-19 , environmental health , infectious disease (medical specialty) , medicine , developmental psychology , political science , psychiatry , virology , biology , law , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology
Amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, there is uncertainty regarding potential lasting impacts on children's health and educational outcomes. Play, a fundamental part of childhood, may be integral to children's health during crises. We undertook a rapid review of the impact of quarantine, isolation and other restrictive environments on play and whether play mitigates adverse effects of such restrictions. Fifteen peer‐reviewed studies were identified, spanning hospitals, juvenile and immigration detention and refugee camps. We found evidence of changes in children's access to play in crises and quarantine. These studies indicated how play might support children enduring isolation but lacked robust investigations of play as an intervention in mitigating impacts of restriction. Studies pertaining to children in isolation due to infectious disease outbreaks were notably absent. It is important that the potential effects of changes to such a crucial aspect of childhood are better understood to support children in this and future crises.