COMMENT: A lonely childhood is actually no childhood at all

Endless sunny days spent with your best mates, weeks after weeks at a time...

At least, that’s how it seems in my memory.

Some discerning, if uncharitable, readers might point that my childhood was many summers ago now – and the mind plays tricks as the years go by.

Yes, it’s true that my last school holiday was not only in the last century, but in the last millennium (and if that doesn’t make you feel old, nothing will).

And thinking about it, I can hardly recall ever being stuck inside on drizzly August days – but they must have happened.

Climate change is one thing, but the UK hasn’t drifted north from the equator in the last 30 years.

As kids across the county scramble through drawers and peer down the back of radiators, frantically looking for school ties last seen a lifetime ago, how will they look back on the unique summer recess of 2020?

There have been reports about concerns over the psychological impact the lockdown has had on the younger generation – and the extended break they’ve had from their mates – or friendship group. as it’s known these days.

For some, this provokes snorts of outrage about a snowflake generation who have been mollycoddled to death.

They’ve definitely had the benefit of technology we could on have dreamed of as kids. When I was at school, the only person with facetime technology appeared to be Captain Kirk on the Starship Enterprise.

Our kids can Zoom and hangout to their hearts’ content, but it’s also true that you can have so many virtual friends – and still feel utterly alone.

Not every child will be looking forward to going back into the classroom, and there are – quite rightly – concerns over the safety of both students and their teachers when lessons resume.

But even those dragging their new shoes reluctantly to the school gate will end up learning vital lessons that aren’t in their text books. Like making good friends.

Because a lonely childhood is no childhood at all.