Voices in a Pandemic (VIP-CLEAR): Using deep mapping to explore children’s changing perceptions and experiences during COVID-19 ‘recovery’

McEwen, Lindsey; Webber, Amanda; Gorell Barnes, Luci; Gopinath, Deepak; Hobbs, Laura; Deave, Toity; Williams, Sara; Jones, Verity; Fogg Rogers, Laura

Abstract

Children are unheard voices within the COVID-19 pandemic. We are unaware how intersections of complex factors in specific social settings have impacted their perceptions and are determining what ‘recovery’ means. ‘Voices in a Pandemic: Children’s Lockdown Experiences Applied to Recovery’ (VIP-CLEAR) has been working with four partner schools in Bristol, UK to explore how risk and mitigation strategies impacted the learning, development, health and wellbeing of children (6-11yrs) in socially disadvantaged areas in multicultural Bristol, UK. Working with a socially-engaged artist, we developed a sequence of creative, child-focused, active methodologies - a longitudinal ‘creative diary process’ - to encourage children to share their experiences. Our interdisciplinary research aimed to gather and critically evaluate their worldviews, perceptions and experiences so this evidence can support their involvement in 'recovery’. In our processes, we had concern for the otherness of children. This paper focuses on the first phase - deep mapping of ‘their world’ in the emergence of LOCKDOWN3. This was a two-stage mapping process - phase 1 followed phase 2 after elapse of 6-98 days. In face-to-face sessions, the children’s dialogue was captured using observational notetaking. This activity initially took place with >700 children between February-June 2021; we then analysed thematically a consented subset of 131 maps. Our analysis revealed large diversity in children’s experiences along varied continua - with implications for an individual child’s health and wellbeing. Strongest themes were:
• (re)connections-disconnections
• contraction-expansion;
• disempowerment-empowerment;
• presence-absence/loss;
• real worlds-imagined worlds.
Over the mapping timeline, we gained a unique window into changing worlds, and valued places (green; digital) and relationships (human; non-human). This research provides a valuable archive of children’s voices to inform policy/practice around adaptation to future social shocks.
(see vip-clear.org)

• Presentation Conference Type: Keynote
• Conference Name: UK Alliance for Disaster Research Annual Conference 2022
• Start Date: Dec 7, 2022
• End Date: Dec 8, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jan 18, 2023
• Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 Pandemic
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10363408
• Publisher URL: http://ukadr.org/docs/UKADR-conference-2022.pdf
• Related Public URLs: http://www.ukadr.org/conference2022.html