This is National Child Day but, a special day to celebrate children and youth, but also to reflect on the effects COVID has had on children’s lives.

Child and Youth Advocate Jackie Lake Kavanagh says various services were forced to adjust how they operated almost overnight.

While the impact of some of the changes was immediate such as closed schools and social isolation, some impacts will be felt well into the future according the advocate.

She says there has been a fair amount of anxiety in families and children.

Lake Kavanagh says young people’s voices should be heard even though adults are well-meaning in putting the interests of children first.