Corona Times Journal: Edition 5

I hear news from my parents., on TV, news and adverts, and from the government. I hear just how long they’re going to keep the lockdown for and that schools start back in August. The news was saying how some other countries have stricter lockdowns and that. I think there’s some places you’re not allowed out at all, even for essentials. The best thing is to just talk to somebody, like my mum or dad or my gran, just people I can trust. Or maybe YouTube. I’d trust the ones when they’re serious. If it’s from people who know about this virus, like the NHS or the news, I’d trust it.
(Zoomer age 10)

The school hasn’t ever told us anything about Coronavirus. We watch Nicola Sturgeon on Facebook. She explains what we can do, like to wear face masks. And they’re preparing the schools for us to go back. Or we see Boris on the news. The best place to find out things has been watching Nicola. I think we know enough about it.
(Skateboard Skater age 13)

I hear things from the Prime Minister and my mum watches the news and she explains it to me. My sister works in a care home and people have had Coronavirus and people have died. So she tells us about what is happening when she gets home. She likes her job.
(The Human Rights Master age 11)

I get information from the news, mainly whatever channel my parents are watching. But whenever I am at my mums it’s whatever she tells me. I’ve been hearing mainly dumb rules, like what you can’t do, which everybody should know by now. But other than that just a few pieces about locations. The best source of information is the news on TV or my parents.
(Ultra Bee age 13)

Mostly I hear things from my mum or from the news. My mum likes to research it, ever since it started. She finds out things and if anything changes she tells me. We watch Good Morning Britain or there are adverts on TV about it. On GMB they talk about the lockdown or if people aren’t sticking to it, or how it’ll turn out. They say it will be different and difficult, it’ll be hard to get everything going again.
(Creative Songstress age 14)

I mostly get information on the lockdown from my parents, sometimes I hear things on the radio. When lockdown first started we used to watch the news a lot but my little brother used to get upset so now my mum and dad just tell me stuff. My parents try to tell us when things are getting better, like when the lockdown is easing or stuff about school. My parents and my parents told me it’s better not to listen to my friends because what they heard might be wrong.
(LunaLoveArt age 10)

I mostly see information on the internet or the TV, like Nicola Sturgeon’s updates, but I don’t really pay attention to it that much. I heard about the two day a week school update and when everything’s opening again. Nobody’s really a 100% good source, but I would say NHS is a pretty good source. Other than that I’m not sure.
(Bruno the Hamster age 12)

I don’t get information online, I get it off my mum who gets it from the Scottish Government. She tells me what’s open or not. She also tells me the numbers of whose got the coronavirus – up or down – and who’s died from the virus and the new cases. Yesterday, my granny sent my mum a message that our caravan might be opening soon. Mum had booked us a caravan trip but she’s not sure if her dad’s ok so I don’t know if we’ll go. Phase 2 is finally out, I think! It started Friday. We get longer out and we can see people only if we are single. My mum is the best source of information for me and for her it’s the Scottish Government on the website.
(Catnip age 10)

I usually get information from the tv or my phone. I look at the STV news at 6 or I get news updates on my phone – I just swipe left from my home screen. I’ve heard most of what’s going on in the UK. You need to think –  are people telling you  the truth or are they telling you lies? For example are they telling you the truth about deaths? Is it all coronavirus or could people have died from a heart attack or the flu? I think the best source of information for me is listening to Nicola Sturgeon talk about it because she is doing the best she can for Scotland. I’ve heard a lot about the Black Lives Matter protest.  I think Donald Trump should stop being a coward. He should let black people march up to the White House and talk some sense into him about racism.
(B. Baggins age 12)

I first got information from our school. Before the lockdown, they told everybody about it and how to keep safe. My mum watches the news and then she tells me every so often. In the news I have been hearing what’s happening, what countries are getting better, what countries are getting worse, how many people have got it. Sometimes when I’m watching YouTube there’s a place where there’s tons of news and it says stuff about Coronavirus. It has little clips about what to do. It gives me some information.
(Ringtone age 10)

I mostly hear about Coronavirus when my adult is on the internet and she is showing me or telling me things. Sometimes I talk about it with my friends. I think the UK government sent us a letter near the start too. I’ve been hearing mostly about wearing masks when you’re going to the shops or on public transport, how not to spread the Coronavirus and stay safe. I’ve also heard about the symptoms of Coronavirus and what to do if you get it and that lots of people have died. I get the best information mostly from my mummy.
(Beluga8 age 8)

Yes I understand what I am finding out. I don’t really see anything confusing about it, as long as they give the dates and their plan. What I hear can make me feel angry. I don’t agree with the views of these people who make decisions and I think these decisions should be made by unbiased doctors. At the end of the day no one’s going to do the perfect job so I’m not too mad.
(Bruno the Hamster age 12)

Yes, I understand it a bit, but some things are a bit too adult-ish, so my mummy has to explain them to me and then I understand better. I’m kinda feeling a bit sad because a lot of people in the world have gotten Coronavirus and I feel a bit angry because so many people are sick and that we’ve been in lockdown for so long. 
(Beluga8 age 8)

On the news they talk about the deaths, it makes me feel sad.
(Skateboard Skater age 13)

When I hear stuff it makes me feel worried, but not about me.
(The Human Rights Master age 11)

I don’t always understand things all the time. I find all the numbers difficult to understand – all the people who have died or might have got it. It makes me feel…it’s kind of scary. It’s not just a small number, it’s a big number of how many people have got it. It was scarier at the start of lockdown but they’re not as scary now.
(Ringtone age 10)

I feel like I have a good understanding of it because people are talking to me about it and can explain it to me a bit more if I need it, like my dad and my mum. It makes me feel good that the numbers are going down but it makes me feel sad that it’s still affecting lots of people. I’m feeling quite confident that the numbers are going down though.
(Zoomer age 10)

I understand the news half the time but sometimes I don’t get it all, only the gist of it. They use loads of fancy words which means you don’t understand all of it. To start off with it was all a bit overwhelming but now I’m understanding the news more and it makes me feel included.
(Techboy20 age 13)

I would say I slightly understand. Some things I think are pointless. But most of it I think I understand why and how, and all that. Personally, I don’t really care. Yes, the lockdown is kind of scary but I’m fine with it.
(Ultra Bee age 13)

Some things I don’t understand so I’ll speak to my mum or do some research on my ‘phone. So, like about the different steps, or that they’ll contact you. I don’t understand how that will work. I feel, well honestly, I don’t mind hearing about it. I’m stuck at home so it doesn’t affect me. Sometimes I go out now, but stay apart from my friends.
(Creative Songstress age 14)

Well like a said my parents try to tell us good news so good that things are changing for the better. The other day my dad told me there is medicine now that can help people live so that give me hope. I mostly understand what I hear. It’s difficult when we can’t see our friends and we feel better when we know we will be able to see our friends again.
(LunaLoveArt age 10)

I understand most of it, the news, but not all of it because sometimes they don’t tell the truth.
(B. Baggins age 12)

If I don’t understand I ask my mum who explains it and I perfectly understand it all. What I hear makes me nervous sometimes, happy and sad. I feel happy that the numbers are going down, that means lockdown is almost over. Sad because people are dying. I was worried the first time I figured out the numbers when they were very high.
(Catnip age 10)

I think we need to know everything because at the end of the day it’s our right to know what’s going on in our life. The best way to hear information is to hear it directly from Nicola Sturgeon. She could type out a letter or maybe put on a zoom call for children in foster care and for all children. It’s really important younger children too – like 5 year olds –  to know what is going on in a child friendly way. Nicola Sturgeon could write a story book for young children and send it to all parents with small children in Scotland  – the way Dolly Parton does.
(B. Baggins age 12)

I’d like to know how many people where I live have Coronavirus because lots of my family live here and it’d be bad if they caught it. Maybe you could simplify it and make it understandable. Maybe teachers could give us an update about the Coronavirus every week. (Ringtone age 10)

I think children should get information from their parents because their parents won’t tell them something that isn’t right. (LunaLoveArt age 10)

I would like to know more about what the Coronavirus actually is – I know it’s a virus and how you catch it but I don’t know if I do catch it what it will do to me.  They use fancy words and it doesn’t make a lot of sense. The best way is to pass the information to adults who can share it with children.  Children don’t always understand so it’s good to have an adult explain. Also it’s good to have a website for children and it would be good to have an advice line for children – so if you are struggling to understand stuff you  can chat to someone and get advice.
(Techboy20 age 13)

I think we have enough information, maybe if we hear more it will make us worry too much, or make us feel ill. For me it’s my mum and sister that explain things.
(The Human Rights Master age 11)

I think we need to know more about why we are in lockdown. I have seen friends, on social media, hanging out with multiple households at once without social distancing. You can tell quite clearly it’s not an old memory. I don’t think they realise the effect of it. Maybe children need teachers to share information through online work.
(Ultra Bee age 13)

Now we need to know what the exact rules are. People kind of know what they are doing, maybe people feel in more control, but there should be rules. 
(Creative Songstress age 14)

I think little children should know how to wash their hands properly so they don’t get the Coronavirus. And I think that we should also know that millions and millions of people are affected and it’s made their lives hard. Cartoons are good way to share information to children – like Baby Shark wash your hands. And we watched a thing about racism that used characters from the American show Sesame Street and it helped me understand what is going on over there. They explained it really well. Even though it was more about America, it was still important because similar things happen here. (Beluga8 age 8)

There’s nothing much more that I can think of that we need to know. Well, all children should be informed about when they go back to school and when they can go and meet their friends without having to tell their parents first. A good way to tell children things is through social media. It’s quite good because there’s lots of children on social media-  WhatsApp, Insta, YouTube and Tik Tok – so they’ll find out things there.
(Mr Cheese age 11)

I think children should know how much it’s doing to the world – losing their family. I know it’s pretty sad but it’s something they need to know about. Also, the weather. Have you ever noticed that the weather is lovely when we’re all inside? I think information should be from the Scottish Government. It tells you the numbers but it doesn’t tell you anything sad. It tells you the number of people who have recovered on the website. Children need to get their mums and dads to tell them!
(Catnip age 10)

Children need to know the rules, but stated in a clear, non-confusing way that makes sure children know how to keep themselves safe. Parents should be helping children get trustworthy information and filter through the clickbait and lies.
(Bruno the Hamster age 12)

I think children need to know stuff about how long they’re keeping lockdown for and how the numbers are going down, so then they’ll know more people are surviving and they don’t have to be really worried. I think children should know about when the schools are going back and about what’s happening with home-schooling. But I think some children might know too much about it, and they might get upset and sad – children should be entertained and happy too. The best way to tell children information is just talking to them in person, or through a phone call or Zoom call. Or put it on the TV, and on YouTube and that. They will see it there.
(Zoomer age 10)

It could be better. I prefer doing work at school because there’s someone to help me if I get stuck. I think it’s good we are going back after the summer holidays. Although I wish we could go earlier, so this is the second best option for the government to take in my opinion. (Bruno the Hamster age 12)

Learning in my house is terrible. It’s so hard and confusing. I prefer to have a teacher. I’m worried about going back to school. How are they going to do social distancing? How are they going to organise the classes for learning? People might not be happy with the arrangements. I don’t understand how they’ll do lunches, normally we can wander. What now? Maybe one class at a time? No-one has said. I heard that we are going back to school in August, my friend told me. The school haven’t said anything. My friend heard from somewhere. But how can we? How will they do it? It would be good if the school was more in touch, like how are my choices for S3 going to work out? Why don’t they explain all this? (Creative Songstress age 14)

Learning has been hard – the work and understanding it. I haven’t had contact with teachers, we just get sent stuff. I don’t know how I feel about going back. I would rather be going back full-time but I understand that we can’t. My Guidance teacher has given me some information about going back to school – on Google Meets. We will be part-time, but I don’t know how many days yet. There will be no breaks outside, and one-way corridors. The buses that we have to get to school will only be half-full, because there will be only half the school at a time. I am a bit worried about having to wear a mask, they haven’t said yet, so we don’t know if its compulsory. I haven’t worn one yet. But if I get a North Face one it would be cool.
(Skateboard Skater age 13)

For me learning has been pretty good because you’ve been doing some learning at home. I’m not forgetting about the things we learn about at school.  I think it will be pretty good to go back because I’ll be able to see and talk to my friends. (Ringtone age 10)

Learning has been unusual and different. It has been harder to concentrate in the house and I have been missing working with friends in groups or with a partner. I’m excited about going back to school. Our school was doing this thing where we will only go to school 2 days a week and we are going to be in smaller classes so I won’t get to see all my friends as much, but now the school says hopefully we can go to back to normal after the holidays which I hope we will but mum and dad says we just have to wait and see.
(LunaLoveArt age 10)

Learning has been quite hard. I haven’t really been doing work from school. Instead I have been doing the work given from my dad. It’s best as the website my school uses doesn’t work the greatest. I think going back will be hard. I am so used to being touchy and affectionate with my friends that it will be quite difficult to stop myself from doing what I usually do, such as hugging. It has also been announced that the High school students will take one day out of the week and the rest of the week work at home. I think this will mess with students heads a little in a way.
(Ultra Bee age 13)

I think I’ve been getting a good education, because my mum’s been teaching me and she’s not having to help 20-odd kids, it’s just me. My teacher’s still sending out lessons and my class has a Chromebook each, so I count myself lucky that we have that new technology. It’s not very hard, but not very easy. It’s a good education. I think it’s a bit easier because you don’t have to do as much, because there’s only so much you can do and be able to understand it. I just don’t think we’re getting taught as hard stuff as we were in school but I think it’s still a good education. I prefer not being in a noisy classroom, it’s not really that nice of an atmosphere. This is a nice atmosphere at home, somewhere familiar. I think I prefer this to before. I think I’m all right with  going back to school. It’s been a few months. I’ve just found out who my teacher is and that a friend I have is in my smaller class. I think it will be alright, especially this year, because I won’t be in school as much as normal. Also, even though lots of my class will be two years younger than some people from my class this year, I think we’ll be a bit more sensible and quieter.
(Mr Cheese age 11)

Learning during lockdown has not been the best because I know the Coronavirus will have an impact on my education. I struggle a lot more with work at home. I find it easier in the classroom – easier when teachers are there to explain things. I am looking forward to going back to school but it will be different because of social distancing. I am looking forward to seeing friends and teachers, having a routine and a new timetable. I think people will forget about social distancing on the first day and want to give hugs. My friend in S3 always gives me a high 5.
(B. Baggins age 12)

I think learning at home has been kind of good because we’ve done it so long that I got used to it, and I liked working on my own with my adult instead of in my class because they know you better and I learned things faster. I think I got better at doing fractions because I didn’t really get it when I was at school and I felt like I never could ask all the questions I wanted to. I’m feeling quite good about going back to school because I want to see my friends again and meet my new teacher. My P4 teacher phoned me and chatted about next year so I feel better and not so worried anymore. It’s still hard because I’ll have a teacher I’ve never met before because she will be new to my school.
(Beluga8 age 8)

Learning at home is great. My mum says she’s going to miss it when we go back to school. I’ll also miss it because it’ll mean less time with my family. That’s what school means to me – it takes you away from your parents. Going back to school is good because it’s going to be outdoor learning. I really like outdoor learning – it’s one of my favourite things to do. There’s activities you do outdoors and we wear school uniform on top half and comfy leggings on the bottom half. We can build dens…lots of stuff like that! It’s really good because in lockdown we’ve been inside for so long. Everyone was crammed inside and some children might not have gardens. We don’t have a garden properly outside – we have an indoor garden. But you only get fresh air if the window is wide enough. And I feel happy when I’m outside!
(Catnip age 10)

I think physically I’m alright. We are still going on walks, still playing in the garden. We are eating a lot of snacks but I think we are exercising quite well. I’m feeling alright. Feeling better than before especially without the stress of going to school. Like having to get up really early in the morning, having to get ready in time for school, having to do our homework, having to do all that work at school, having to be thinking too hard. Definitely a lot less stressful. We were planning on having a holiday this year in the caravan, but we can’t now so that’s a bit sad, but I’m quite laid back and relaxed. I know I miss friends but I’ve been calling my friends and playing games online with them.
(Mr Cheese age 11)

Only time will tell about my health because you might think ‘not good’ but it might be good after all. I do eat cakes and I’m now starting to go upstairs much more slowly! If we don’t go to the caravan I might still have worries. Because when I go there, I lose all my worries. It’s so nice and relaxing. I love splashing in the water in the river.
(Catnip age 10)

I go on the Wi Fit, that helps and it tells you your health. My health is good. I eat a lot of fruit. I’m up very late so I get tired and get up later. I worry about my mum who was in hospital, but she’s home again.
(The Human Rights Master age 11)

My physical health, it’s ok I have been skipping, walking, running and juggling. I do walks most days. My mental health, it’s been a bit of a mix of happiness and sadness because I miss my family most days. I really miss my sisters although I do text them back and forth all the time and ask them how they are.  We text random things to each other, and even though I’ve been video calling them I miss them heaps and heaps. (B. Baggins age 12)

My health is okay. A lot of people have been saying they’re putting on weight. I’m feeling okay because I’ve been playing outside a lot and playing football. My feelings and emotions are good. I’ve finally had my cousin over and we haven’t seen each other in ages. I’m feeling good about the holidays too so I can go outside a lot more. Still, some days I’ll wake up feeling happy and, sometimes, sad for no reason. I’m feeling hopeful about how things are going though.
(Zoomer age 10)

I go on walks and things which is good and I’ve started playing badminton with my dad. But I haven’t been doing karate. So I guess my physical health is almost the same. The way I’m feeling, I’m more angry and sad because I hate staying at home and I never saw any of my friends until today, but I’m starting to get over it.
(Bruno the Hamster age 12)

When it comes to my physical health well, I never go out, so it’s kind of normal for me. I’ve never been that fit but I eat well. I still do some running, whether its running for my school bus in the mornings or chasing my siblings round the house. It may sound weird by my mental health is a lot better. Yes, I am worried about friends and family, but I don’t have to worry about so many things, like school. I feel a lot more at ease.
(Ultra Bee age 13)

My physical health is pretty good. We’ve been quite active – we’ve been on bike cycles and quite a lot of walks. My mental health has not been that bad. Sometimes I’ve been getting stressed – just, it’s quite annoying. You could barely do anything you used to be able to do. I got stressed being in the house all the time and only talking to my brother and my mum. (Ringtone age 10)

My health is good but I don’t feel so fit, like I haven’t been skateboarding or playing football. I am walking the dog, that’s been good, just on the lead. I’ve had company from my pals and my girlfriend playing Fortnite. My mum says I’m coping, she’s proud of me.
(Skateboard Skater age 13)

I think my health is better because we have been doing more exercise than before because me and my family go for long bike rides. My mental health is fine. I’m not really worried about anything, it is a bit annoying that school is going to be different and I will be glad when things go back to normal.
(LunaLoveArt age 10)

My physical health isn’t so good. I’m thinner than I was before, I don’t eat as much as I used to. I used to be able to walk far distances, now I get sore. I’d say my mental health is better that when it first started. At first I was stressed, I didn’t know what to do. I got used to it. Now I’m excited about seeing friends, actually seeing them.
(Creative Songstress age 14)

I think I’ll be as healthy as normal because I’ve been having good sleeps and eating lots of good food and playing outside a lot. I’ve been learning how to rollerblade too! And I wash my hands a lot without complaining. Being in lockdown has made me feel safer because I’m not as worried about me or my mummy catching Coronavirus because we’re staying home and doing things like washing our hands. I still worry sometimes, but if I do, then I go in my fort or ask for a cuddle. 
(Beluga8 age 8)