‘Childhood’, the poet George Herbert once wrote, ‘is health’.¹ Perhaps in children, we might glimpse the full meaning of health. Alongside the physical, health could include intangible qualities, such as a sense of curiosity, a willingness to learn, an ability to adapt, playfulness, and an openness to cooperation. This conference brings together academics, authors, economists, educators, health specialists, psychologists, and members of humanitarian organisations, at a moment of crisis. We will discuss how children are experiencing the pandemic, and how best to support them. How can we improve our children's health, in all senses of the word, at a time when everyone’s health is threatened?

Three themes will be addressed:

1. Children’s Literature: How can we communicate most effectively about the pandemic to children, both with words and with images? How are children’s experiences of the pandemic being represented?
2. Children’s Education: How is education adapting to the new climate? How might those adaptations influence educational models in the long term?
3. Children’s Health: What are the effects of the pandemic on children’s mental and physical health, and on their literacy? What needs to happen in order to mitigate those effects?

Each panel will consist of 3-5 presentations, followed by a group discussion among panellists and members of the audience.

-- 1. Herbert, George. “Holy Baptisme (II)”, in The Temple (1633)