Sketches of illness, death, and canceled activities were common themes of children’s drawings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Uppsala University researchers studied 91 illustrations created by children ages 4 to 6 and found they had extensive health literacy.
The study, published in Acta Paediatr, was entirely based on drawings about the pandemic produced by children that had been submitted to the Swedish Archive of Children’s Drawings between April 2020 and February 2021.
Thorough research studies involving children’s art is uncommon, and the researchers were unsure how it would be received by the medical community. As Anna Sarkadi, Professor of Social Medicine and lead author, explained, “It was a very fun study to carry out. I was actually quite uncertain as to whether a medical journal would publish the article, but they did, including the children’s drawings and everything.” Analysis of children’s art can provide valuable insights into how younger children process health literacy information.
The analysis combined participants' explanations of their images with a visual analysis of the drawings. The researchers showed the significant impact of the pandemic on younger children as evidenced by portrayals of worry, and fear. Many drawings expressed how they missed grandparents and relatives they were unable to physically interact with due to the pandemic.
The researchers noted three key themes. The first theme centered on the virus and its threat as an invisible danger. Some children portrayed the coronavirus as a monster that needed slaying, while others outlined personal protection steps.
The second theme reflected the negative effects that the pandemic had on the lives of young kids. Even though Sweden placed fewer restrictions on school closures and other activities than other countries, children were deeply impacted. The analysis showed many children believed life had been negatively impacted for many in Sweden. Drawings of children from all over the globe capture what children miss from their per-pandemic lives.
The third theme addressed global impacts. Children displayed an extensive understanding of COVID-19 contagion patterns and the importance of handwashing and social distancing to prevent viral spread.
Overall, the participants had a high level of COVID-19 awareness, and demonstrated COVID-19 knowledge, such as infection and symptoms. The Public Health Agency of Sweden has requested that the research team continue this important research and now focus on drawings made by 7–11-year-olds during or after the pandemic.
Sources: Acta Paediatr, Eureka News Alert
