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Physical activity, sleep, dietary habits, and screen time in Bogotá's children post-pandemic lockdown: a
Shirley Castrellon-Vergara1, Blanca Nathalia Rueda-Alfonso1, María Alejandra Palacios-Ariza2
1Programa de Especialización en Pediatría - Facultad de Medicina, Fundación Universitaria Sanitas, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.
Insights
Bogotá children adapted post-lockdown routines, with play replaced by screen time and self-managed sleep. Interventions should address emotional regulation and active play, not just pre-pandemic norms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Child Psychology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns significantly disrupted children's daily lives globally.
- Understanding how children adapted their routines post-lockdown is crucial for addressing emerging health and developmental challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the reconfiguration of post-lockdown routines among children in Bogotá.
- To capture the behavioral patterns and lived experiences of children returning to in-person activities.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.
- 217 children (aged 8-12) completed questionnaires on physical activity, sleep, diet, and screen time.
- 15 children participated in semi-structured interviews to explore perceptions of their daily routines.
Main Results:
- Moderate physical activity levels were observed, but widespread sleep disturbances (49.7%) and high recreational screen use (median 6 hours/day) were prevalent.
- Dietary intake was poor, with over 90% consuming fewer than two daily vegetable servings.
- Children's narratives indicated play was replaced by structured activities, screen time was used for emotional regulation, and sleep was self-managed, with children perceiving these habits as normal despite negative feelings.
Conclusions:
- Children's post-lockdown routines represent adaptation strategies rather than simple behavioral regressions.
- Interventions should prioritize emotional regulation, balanced time management, quality rest, and active play.
- Future strategies must move beyond simply restoring pre-pandemic norms to support children's current needs.
Purpose:
This study explored how Bogotá's children reconfigured their post-lockdown routines as part of their lived experience after returning to in-person activities.
Methods:
A mixed-methods design was applied to capture behavioral patterns and their meanings. Quantitatively, 217 children aged 8-12 years attending pediatric clinics (Oct 2022-Sep 2023) completed validated questionnaires assessing physical activity, sleep, diet, and screen exposure. Qualitatively, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 children selected through purposive sampling to deepen insight into their daily routines and perceptions. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and by sex, while thematic analysis of interviews provided contextual interpretation. Integration occurred through a narrative weaving approach.
Results:
Quantitative findings indicated moderate physical activity (66% met ≥ 3 days/week), widespread sleep disturbances (49.7%), recreational screen use (median= 6 hours/day), and poor dietary intake (>90% consumed fewer than two vegetable servings daily). Narratives revealed that play was often replaced by structured adult-imposed activities, screen time served as both emotional refuge and behavioral reward, and sleep was self-managed through distractions such as eating or watching TV. Children viewed these habits as normal despite feelings of fatigue, frustration, and a longing for autonomy.
Conclusion:
Children's post-lockdown routines reflect adaptation rather than behavioral lapses, requiring interventions focus on emotional regulation, time balance, quality rest, and active play (not merely a return to pre-pandemic norms).
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