“After a while, it became a normal thing”: Swedish children’s experiences of everyday life in school during the Covid-19 pandemic

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21814/childstudies.6326

Keywords:

ADHD, ASD, children’s experiences, COVID-19, everyday life, ID

Abstract

The article investigates how Swedish children (aged 8–12) with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder describe their school-situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. A socio-ecological perspective is used to understand how the pandemic trickled down and became part of children’s everyday life. The data consists of eight qualitative interviews with children. The interviews were analysed using a grounded theory approach. Most prominent in the children’s main concerns about pandemic school life is change. The results show that although the children’s lived pandemic environment is mainly described in challenging terms, the pandemic also provided some opportunities for them – school becoming calmer, for example, or the disease restrictions providing opportunities to take a time-out.

Author Biographies

Helene Elvstrand, Linköping University

Helene Elvstrand is senior associate professor at Linköping University. She investigates the conditions and practices in school-age educare centers. Among other things her research concerns how children experience participation and democracy in educational settings, particularly in extended education. Her work also addresses social inclusion among children and young people.

Lina Lago, Linköpings University

Lina Lago is associate professor at Linköping University. She investigates how children perceive and experience their daily lives in educational institutions, such as preschool classes and school-age educare centers. She studies the transitions children make between different educational settings.

Kristina Hellberg , Linnaeus University

Kristina Hellberg is PhD and lecturer at Linnaeus University. Hellberg's work often focuses on inclusive education, exploring how educational practices can be adapted to support students with diverse needs.

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Published

05-08-2025

How to Cite

Elvstrand, H., Lago, L., & Hellberg , K. . (2025). “After a while, it became a normal thing”: Swedish children’s experiences of everyday life in school during the Covid-19 pandemic . Child Studies, (7), 41–62. https://doi.org/10.21814/childstudies.6326

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Articles