What positive aspects did children identify during COVID-19?

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Understanding the pandemic's negative impact on children and adolescents is essential for providing appropriate support and intervention. The researchers also noted that overcoming adversity such as COVID-19 may offer young people positive lessons for addressing the pandemic's negative consequences and preparing society for future crises.

This qualitative study aimed to document the positive aspects children and adolescents perceived during COVID-19 and how they made sense of their experiences. The 67 participants, aged 5–14, were recruited in May and June 2020. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews via a videoconferencing platform, then used NVivo to conduct a thematic qualitative analysis of the transcribed and coded interviews.

Participants' responses were grouped into four main themes and subthemes: school changes, bonding time, free time, and technology usage. The researchers concluded that young people's perspectives offer insight into positive changes and lessons that can be gained amid the pandemic's overwhelming negative consequences.