Under the ‘one-to-one’ rule in England, adults and older children have been able to meet one friend for exercise outdoors. Under-5s are exempt from the rules but children aged 5 and above, who are too young to go out alone, have effectively been prevented from mixing with anyone outside their household since the third lockdown began in December 2020.
The Children’s Rights Alliance for England, part of Just for Kids Law, and Playing Out have written to the Prime Minister calling for England’s lockdown guidelines to ‘allow and encourage’ children to play outdoors together, as they return to school.
The group argues that the rules have unfairly discriminated against children, as evidence mounts of the devastating mental and physical toll that lockdown has taken on them, through social isolation and inactivity.
The letter states, ‘We consider the current regulations discriminate against children and may be challengeable under either the Equality Act 2010 or Article 14 of the European Convention of Human Rights (in conjunction with Article 8).’
In Scotland, children under 12 have been exempt from restrictions around mixing outdoors and last week (8 March) Nicola Sturgeon relaxed rules specifically for teenagers so they can meet in groups of four.
Although children in England are now mixing with friends during the school day, they are still not allowed to do so outside school until lockdown rules change, potentially on 29 March. This is ‘severely hampering’ their ability to play, socialise and be active, all of which are essential for their mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as for their physical health, the group says.
Louise King, director of the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, said, ‘The current guidance in England has failed to take into account the impact on children, including their right to play. It again demonstrates the need to embed children’s rights in Government decision making through a statutory child rights impact assessment. Given the evidence about the safety of meeting outdoors, we see no reason to justify continuing to prevent children from meeting each other, just as adults can.’
Dr Helen Dodd, professor of child psychology at the University of Reading, said, ‘Over the past year, we have seen unprecedented increases in children’s mental health problems and loneliness, alongside decreased physical activity. The longer that children are restricted from playing with their friends, the more likely it is that their typical development will be affected.’
Alice Ferguson, co-director of Playing Out, which supports children’s right to play outside, said, ‘We are deeply concerned that it is children who have suffered the most over the past year and that their need to get outside and play with other children has not been fully considered in decision-making. We urge the Government to act now to allow children to see their friends and to protect their right to play, both in Covid-recovery and any future lockdowns.’
In the letter, the campaigners call for the Prime Minister to ensure that the rules going forward do not unfairly impact children and to:
- Exempt under-12s from current and future regulations around meeting outdoors with immediate effect.
- Amend the guidance to make it clear that play is a valid form of exercise, and that families with children are encouraged to leave their houses to play lawfully.
- Ensure children’s right to play and socialise will be considered in any future lockdowns or restrictions.
A Government spokesperson said, 'We prioritised the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of young people and made opening schools the first step as we cautiously ease out of lockdown. Schools and after-school clubs are now open.
'We fully recognise the importance of exercise to children and know that the risk of transmission is greater indoors than outdoors, which is why playgrounds have also remained open.'
CASE STUDY
Shani, a project worker in an area of high deprivation in Bristol, has spoken about her concerns seeing the children there.
‘Over the last two weeks we have been at the school and met parents one-by-one, handing over art packs we bought for children at home. Unlike the more affluent area where we live, which is busy with children and parents outside, and many people looking healthy and active, we saw no children at all outside or in the green spaces. Parents said that collecting the art pack was one valid reason they could take their children out, as if they did not feel this was the case otherwise.'
The serious impact of isolation and time indoors was very evident on many children who were either subdued - even though we had not seen them for so long - or who looked very different. Parents too spoke about how hard it was for them. Examples included children as young as 5 having to be on screens all day for learning; a family of 7 inside together all the time (aged nursery to Y11); and one child (Y7) with autism who had become so fearful he had not left his bedroom or computer for months.
'To the parent’s horror, he has developed pressure sores - bed sores in effect - from being hunched over the device in his room. This devastating snapshot of children’s lack of activity, time outdoors and any social contact with others and the damaging impact of it all is just the tip of the iceberg - the bit that can be seen in a playground, delivering art packs. We know there is so much more to come in terms of children’s physical and mental health when we see them. And it is all the more appalling because it didn’t have to be this way.'
