Lockdown life: Here's what young kids make of it all – Hayley Matthews

I’ve been encouraging my eight-year-old to write every morning. He is always talking so I thought that giving him some paper and a pen would be good for him to express himself. I’ve told him just to be creative and write his thoughts.

He’s more interested in watching TikTok videos but I’m still trying because he’s a beautiful writer and I’m going to hide the laptop until I get a book out him.

He wrote something about my shouting, so I’ve been mindful of that as I think it’s important for us grown-ups to hear their thoughts. I think it’s important for kids to express themselves but even more important is that we listen and hear them.

We decided to ask some of my son’s friends to write how they’re feeling and here’s what they came up with.

Eva, seven: "I like that I see my parents a lot, I don't like that I can't see my friends and practice our school talent competition dance."

Abbie, eight: “Missing my friends and loving spending time with my little sister and my mummy and my cat jayjay.”

Ollie, six: “ I love being able to watch more cartoons but I don’t like my mummy hoovering all the time.”

Harry, seven: “I like spending more time in the garden with mum and dad and it’s less school work.

“I really miss my friends and we can’t go anywhere.”

Harris, eight: “I like that we’re safe from the virus ’cause we’re staying inside. I don’t like that I can’t see my friends. My mum is annoying and shouts all day.”

Thanks kids, we hope you’re all doing well, Hayley and Harris x.

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