Mothers’ perception of child occupations during the social distancing period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, with physical distancing measures and its consequences for occupations of adults and children, motivated this investigation, which aimed to analyze, from the perspective of family members, the influence of social distancing on the participation of 4 to 6-year-olds in their occupations, as well as identifying the resources available and used by families to promote participation in this context. This is a quantitative, descriptive and exploratory study. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, via Google Forms, published on social networks and news sites. A total of 330 responses were obtained, with the majority of respondents being mothers, from the Southeast region, post-graduated and with family income predominantly above six minimum wages. About the children, the majority were white and with no disabilities. Among the changes perceived in occupations, achievements in communication, greater independence and participation in household and family tasks, excessive use of electronics, boredom and more elaborate play, difficulty for adults to accompany children, and strengthening of family ties, stood out. The family was mentioned as the main source of support and the teacher as a source of information for the families. Studies with greater sample diversity are suggested.