Theoretical framework

The coronavirus pandemic and the isolation measures impacted the lives of everyone.
people on a global level. For those who are adolescents at this time, this situation is
finds itself in a stage of full development and growth, transitioning from childhood and youth
adult, with physical, economic, and mental changes. In times when they should be going to the
school and share moments with their peers, adolescents are adapting to a
new way of studying and connecting with others.

According to U-Report data, our innovative participation space seeks to listen to and
gather the opinions of adolescents and young people on the topics that interest them the most, the
main feelings and emotions that boys and girls describe in relation to the experience
The educational implications in the context of isolation are: stress, fatigue, anguish, overwhelm, boredom.
The pandemic and isolation not only changed the way adolescents attend their classes.
studies, but also the way they spend their free and recreational time, are connected
with their friends and interact with their family. The feelings that prevail among them
young people in these times of quarantine are boredom, worry for others and
anxiety, and the main reasons why they feel this way have to do with the pandemic,
economic situation, not being able to carry out their usual activities and having to spend all the
time at home.

Consequences of social isolation in adolescents, the closure of schools and distancing

social may represent a stagnation or delay in the development of social skills
of adolescents. According to the WHO, it is the period of growth that ranges from 10 to 19 years.
a transition stage to adulthood, in which growth and changes accelerate. It is a
moment when the child's personality becomes established, so achieving an adequate
The development of social skills is key to their integration into the adult world. The
Social isolation during this period can have consequences on their development. Already during the
childhood, the first social skills begin to establish themselves through interaction with
other children and observation. These help them to achieve healthy relationships with other children,
learn to communicate and express what they feel or want, manage emotions, show
ties, etc. During this first stage, it is the parents and close family who act as
learning medium. However, when adolescence is reached, the family takes a back seat.
plan and they are friends and the feeling of belonging to the group of those who occupy a role
main in the development of adolescents.

The teenager, during this stage, is able to achieve a better understanding of the
abstract concepts and reflections on events, and also begins to make decisions that
they imply greater risk. This improves the procedure for information and knowledge of their
Your own skills foster self-esteem.

The closure of schools and the social distancing imposed due to the emergence of COVID-19
it can represent a stagnation or delay in the development of social skills
adolescents harming the natural evolutionary process for the establishment of the
personalities of this. The most likely psychological consequences that arise are:

Depression: Prolonged and forced isolation can lead to a lack of interest in

his usual tasks or learning new ones, causing school problems.

Fear of going out onto the street: the creation of strict hygiene and safety protocols,
In addition, of all the news that has been heard during the confinement
about the virus's ability to spread, increase anxiety when going out on the street and the
fear of getting infected. Fears generate low self-esteem.

Feeling misunderstood: in this period, the group of friends is the main support for the
Teenagers generally feel misunderstood by their family and reject their help.
Not being able to communicate effectively with their friends favors their emotions.
are on edge and their relationships in any situation are more exaggerated,
it is more unprofitable and less flexible.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a great challenge for both small children and adolescents.
adults. Establishing positive and fluid communication among all parties helps to improve the
conduct, behavior, and the ability to face problems. Since
For several months we have been living in a state of emergency unknown to us until now.
now. The confinement imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic can stress us in itself
same due to isolation, concern for family, friends, or loved ones and for the possible
contagion of the virus. In addition to the fear of the illness itself, there is the situation of isolation.

Parents can feel worried about covering all fronts. Although

It may seem like we have more time, but in reality, it gets divided among many daily tasks that
Before they could be distributed and supported by other resources. Now they focus on: attention to
children, remote work for those who have to continue doing it from home, household chores
(food, clothing, cleaning…), the concern for our elderly people who live alone and who
they will depend on their neighbors when they have no other support options... At first it seemed
that we could organize ourselves and as the days go by without going out, we can see each other more
overwhelmed.

Our self-demand to achieve everything is combined with our own emotional experience of the
situation, with the uncertainty of the time that lies ahead of us, our concern about
health, before our family members and even before our economic future. Seeking a balance.
healthy these days, the responsible adults in our households are forced to manage
our own emotions and this requires an effort that we do not always manage to fulfill.
the difference for adults, children have not yet learned to manage their emotional world and,
at this moment, it is important that we accompany them and provide spaces for
expressing their emotions.

We have tried to cope with the situation and regulated our own emotions to a lesser or
for the most part, but we are still concerned about the emotional health of our children. How do they live?
How do they understand this situation? How do they feel now? The children are struggling.
different ways to show your ability to adapt to the new situation. The most
It is important to understand that this situation affects them just as it does us: they have been
changed their daily routines; they feel how we are; no matter their age, they notice that something
important things are happening; they see us worried, constantly talking about Covid19 and
emotionally they feel their worries, fears, and uncertainty about the situation.
In childhood, there are characteristics that make each person's experience different. To understand how
Feel, we must take into account some criteria such as:

Age of the minor

Personality traits

Previous lived experiences

How the virus itself affects the family, including the death of relatives or loved ones.
Other supports: siblings, parents living together, outdoor activities at home.

At the beginning of the confinement, they could experience it as a novelty almost playful due to not going to the
school, spending all the time with their parents, some permissibility in living norms but,
After the days pass, they have a different impact on them: they stop seeing their classmates.
they don't work with them, they don't go to the park, they don't see other close relatives: cousins, grandparents,
friends do not communicate in the usual way. Some will celebrate their birthdays away from their friends and
they will only communicate thanks to the phone, video conference and as we said earlier, can
affect the possible emergence of difficult events within the family due to the virus.

After these days, the children still need time to adapt to the situation that
continue and new behaviors may appear: showing anxiety, changes in mood,
sadness, introversion, irritability, agitation, some sleep disorder. We can say that
All these aspects are adaptable to the new situation and the good thing will be to identify them in order to
manage them as best as possible:

Irritability: it can be a symptom of boredom, anxiety, or even sadness. It

It manifests itself through slight tantrums or bursts of bad mood, depending on the age.

Fear: we can observe it in behaviors related to sleep, seeing how

our children are regressing in already established habits.

Boredom: Isolation can have moments of boredom especially

when the minors had previously led a very hectic life, full of activities
and social contacts. In this situation, they see their social life reduced and cannot do everything.
that which they used to do. We can look for ways to stimulate them and take advantage of certain
dose of boredom as an opportunity to enhance your imagination and develop your
creativity.
Rage and anger: When irritability intensifies or even a new situation occurs,
Due to cohabitation, accumulated tension, or uncertainty, it can generate anger or
anger. These emotions often manifest with intense outbursts of bad mood or
sadness and even aggressive behaviors.
Restlessness and nervousness: minors need to get some fresh air, be in contact with the
nature and regulate all the energy they have, especially at an early age, through
physical exercise.