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March 21, 2022 - 1:30 PM
Three-quarters of parents said in a recent survey their children are getting more screen time and less social time now than before the pandemic.
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute found that 70 per cent of parents with children between the ages of six and 17 found remote learning challenging, with 75 per cent saying their kids had transitioned to more screen time and less social time compared to before the pandemic.
Two-thirds of the parents surveyed said they felt their kids' well-being was an afterthought in pandemic decisions.
"The past two years have proven an immense challenge for parents, as many tried their hand at math, science, and social studies for the first time in decades, hoping to offer some at-home guidance for their household student," the Angus Reid media release issued today, March 21, said. "Others attempted to balance childcare arrangements and work, leading to frustration and stress."
More than one-third of parents surveyed said their child's performance at school had worsened since the pandemic began.
According to the survey, a lot of parents point some of the blame on the government.
More than two-thirds of parents said policymakers did not consider their children’s well-being enough. Parents with younger children were more widely affected with 72 per cent saying the government didn't consider their children’s well-being enough, with that number dropping to 63 per cent for parents with teenagers.
The survey also showed that children tend to be very resilient.
Two-thirds of parents said their children are coming through the pandemic well, even though the pandemic has been a significant or severe disruption in their lives.
Having children also put you at a far greater risk of catching COVID.
Parents were nearly twice as likely as those without kids - 30 per cent compared to 17 per cent - to have tested positive for COVID-19.
"Further, they are also more likely to say that their mental health has worsened during this time than those without children in their household," the release said.
The survey, done in partnership with the CBC, also found one-third of parents didn't feel like they were surrounded by a good support network and two-in-five of those with children felt their relationships with friends and family worsened since the pandemic began.
Half of those living with children said there have been more bad times than good since the pandemic began.
A small segment of those surveyed, five per cent, describe the pandemic as "great years."
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