COVID -19 Effects on Young Children: A look four years later
The COVID-19 pandemic has touched every part of our lives, and when it comes to young kids, the impact is particularly worrying. Preschoolers and those in their early school years have faced challenges that might stick with them for a long time. These little ones are at such a crucial stage in their development, and the pandemic has thrown all kinds of obstacles in their way, from messed-up early education to social isolation and stress.
Before the pandemic, preschool was where many kids first experienced a structured environment outside of their homes. It's where they started learning foundational skills like language and social interaction. But then, seemingly overnight, preschools and daycares shut their doors. Millions of kids suddenly missed out on these critical learning opportunities. Even when schools eventually reopened, everything had changed. I remember hearing from parents who were frustrated because they could only drop off and pick up their kids at the front door. There was barely any communication between them and the teachers. They had no idea how their kids were really doing or what they could do at home to help continue the learning.
The classrooms themselves felt different, too. Safety measures like mask-wearing, social distancing, and smaller class sizes made everything feel a bit off. For little kids, seeing someone’s mouth while they speak is super important for learning how to talk, so masks definitely got in the way. And all those fun, hands-on activities that preschoolers love, like group play and singing? A lot of that was scaled back or had to be done differently, which just isn’t the same. For some kids, remote learning became the norm, but that was a real struggle. Let’s be honest—preschoolers don’t have the attention span for Zoom classes, and not every family had the tech or time to make it work. I saw some success when therapists could virtually coach parents on how to work with their kids, but how well that went really depended on the family.
The social side of things took a hit, too. Kids learn so much from playing with other kids—like how to share, cooperate, and deal with little disagreements. But during the pandemic, they didn’t get those opportunities. Some kids went months without seeing anyone besides their parents and siblings, if they even had siblings. That kind of isolation was tough, and it showed. I’ve heard from a lot of parents about increased tantrums, setbacks with potty training, and kids who suddenly didn’t want to be away from mom or dad. It was like the lack of social interaction and routine threw them for a loop.
And then there’s the overall vibe at home during the pandemic. Even the youngest kids could pick up on the stress their parents and caregivers were feeling. Whether it was job losses, health worries, or just the general uncertainty of it all, kids could sense that something wasn’t right. They’re super perceptive, and when they pick up on adult stress, it can make them feel insecure or confused.
Physical health took a backseat, too. With playgrounds and parks closed, a lot of kids ended up being more sedentary than usual, which wasn’t great. Add in more screen time, and there were definitely concerns about how all of this was affecting their health. I also noticed that many kids had their sleep patterns thrown off. Without a solid daily routine, and with all the extra stress, a lot of kids were having trouble sleeping. And since sleep is so important for everything from physical health to emotional well-being, those sleep disruptions had a big impact.
Looking ahead, it’s hard to say exactly what the long-term consequences will be. But experts are worried that some kids might experience developmental delays or struggle academically as they move forward. Kids who missed out on those crucial early years might start kindergarten with gaps in their learning, making it harder to keep up with their peers. Plus, the social and emotional fallout from all that isolation and stress could stick with them, making it tough to form relationships or handle challenges down the road. Strangely enough, it seems like the kids who regularly attended daycare before the pandemic might have had a rougher time adjusting compared to those who weren’t used to that kind of routine. I noticed this in a lot of the kids I saw after things started reopening. The ones who stayed home, especially if they had some interaction with close family, seemed to handle the transition better.
The pandemic also hit elementary school kids hard. Many are still struggling to catch up in subjects like reading and math. The 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that 9-year-olds' scores dropped to levels we haven’t seen in decades, and kids from low-income families or those without reliable internet had an even tougher time. Beyond academics, the social and emotional toll has been huge. Kids who were isolated during remote learning are now dealing with anxiety, difficulty adjusting to social situations, and behavior issues. I’ve heard from a lot of teachers and parents about kids having more emotional outbursts, trouble focusing, and being extra sensitive.
Schools are trying to help by offering remedial programs, tutoring, and summer learning to help kids catch up. They’re also focusing more on social-emotional learning to support kids' mental health and help them rebuild their social skills. But the truth is, full recovery is going to take time. The pandemic affected every child differently, and those who were already at a disadvantage are facing even bigger challenges. Schools (and parents) will need to keep adapting to make sure every student can bounce back and thrive. It’s behind us, and as adults we want it to remain in the rearview mirror, but we can’t forget the possible ongoing effects on our children.
Tammy Villanueva, MS
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