Four in ten parents admit bending Covid-19 rules to meet their family needs

Around four in ten parents are regularly bending the rules around Covid-19 restrictions to suit their family’s needs, Scottish Government research has found.

That figure of non-compliance, which stayed relatively stable over a period of three weeks from the end of October, comes as the Scottish Government admits that restrictions affecting children are causing “notable levels of confusion” amongst young people.

The research has been published in a Scottish Government research document on Covid-19 mitigation measures for young people.

Young people show a "notable" level of confusion around Covid-19 rules, Scottish Government research shows.

Nicola Sturgeon, speaking at her daily coronavirus briefing, said the impact on children and young people due to the pandemic was “heartbreaking”.

The research, undertaken by the Scottish Government, adds that young people were broadly supportive of the measures brought in, including face masks and social distancing in schools.

The paper states: “There are notable levels of confusion or lack of knowledge about current restrictions and rules among young people.

"In the recent Lockdown Lowdown survey of young people aged 11 to 24, more than half of respondents said that they knew what the rules were in general, but were not sure on all the details. A notable minority also noted in open text answers that they found the rules confusing.

“Qualitative research suggests there is a recognition by young people themselves that some young people are not complying with rules, particularly around social distancing.

"However, many young people perceived that other age groups were also not adhering to the restrictions, and that their age group was being unfairly judged by the media.

Polling by the Scottish Government showed that between October 20 and November 4, a “consistent level” of around four in ten parents of under-18s admitted to adapting Covid-19 guidance to suit their family needs.

The most common reason for doing so was due to the mental health of their child, chosen by 41 per cent of parents.

Applying common sense, improving their own mental health, and allowing them to work were the next three most popular and chosen by 35, 30 and 26 per cent of parents.

In response to a question at her daily briefing as to whether she had sympathy with parents and young people, Ms Sturgeon said it was her duty to remind people why they should follow the rules.

She said: “I have huge sympathy for everybody who is struggling with this pandemic right now.

“Every aspect of this pandemic is horrible. There is nothing about it that is not horrible.

"I’ve got more sympathy than I can ever manage to articulate for young people themselves and for parents who are struggling with home schooling, trying to support the mental health and the wellbeing of their children and trying to strike the right balance.

"This is horrendous for everybody, but it is necessary and that is what I have to stand here and say. That’s my duty – is to point out to people the risks of this virus and therefore why these horrendous restrictions are so important and not just to have in place, but important for everybody to abide by.

“The more we abide by them, the sooner we get this virus back under control again while the vaccination programme is doing its work, then the sooner we can have greater normality back for our young people.”

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