Occupational engagement and participation is considered essential for adults’ and children’s health, development and social connectedness. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing government ordered restrictions, the patterns of everyday activities and occupational engagement were altered. The purpose of the research studies was to explore the ways in which the government-imposed restrictions disrupted school aged children’s and adults’ patterns of activity and the ways in which they engaged in chosen occupations in Greece during the first wave of COVID in 2020. Children and adults became more involved in home based informal activities, particularly recreational activities and the forms of their occupational engagement altered. Gender appears to have influenced types of activities in which people participated and there was an increase in the amount of time spent with family members in co-occupations. The studies described were unique in the two specific foci: it was conducted during the first wave of COVID in Greece and Europe; and, it was primarily focused on how the government-imposed restrictions altered activity patterns and their forms of occupational engagement.  During those studies regular online meetings between MC and OBU academics and researchers were held resulting in two publications of the results and useful experience for further research collaboration.