Covid-19 Pandemic and Changes In the Social Life Of Children: Children’s Use of Space at Home

Abstract

The pandemic has highlighted new questions for theory, policy and practice regarding children and dwellings. The aim of this research was to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the children’s social life in their homes. To understand their perceptions about their spaces in their homes, the method of drawing is used as a tool for the children to make out their feelings, emotions and perceptions about their new life during lockdown. In line with this, the study involves, analyzing children’s drawings about perception, emotions and feelings about the spaces they used in their homes during lockdown. Sample of the study is 60 children aged between 6-10. Afterwards, the children’s drawings were classified, coded, analyzed, evaluated and the findings were discussed. According to analyzes of the children’s drawings, the most mentioned spaces in their dwellings were balcony of their houses. The balcony which is the essential part of flats in Mediterranean cities become the new social healthier public space for children during lockdown.