How is Coronavirus affecting the development of children?

For anyone who has kids, a large concern over the on-going pandemic has been how the significant lifestyle changes may be affecting them. From missing out on time at school to not being able to spend as much time with others socially as usually, it’s no wonder that we are worried the effect it may have on our little ones.

There have been myriad discussions surrounding the effects on older children, from missing vital study time with teachers to the social aspect of school but something that has been more overlooked in the media is the effect on babies and toddlers. Although these children are not so set in a routine, these early years are incredibly important for development and they are still being affected by the changes.

A recent article from The Independent looked into this and the potential ways that Coronavirus might negatively affect development in babies and toddlers.

Developmental psychologist Aliza W Pressman told The Independent that she predicts: “There is going to be a bit of a collective lag in academic skills and in those executive-function skills that allow a child to navigate a classroom more easily.” A worrying thought indeed.

Further on, the article discusses how taking children out of playgroups and nurseries might also mean we are missing opportunities to pick up on atypical traits: “Without group settings, ‘we are missing a lot of observations, so there is going to be a whole raft of problems’, said Patricia K Kuhl, who co-directs the Institute for Brain and Learning Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. That’s partly because group settings like daycare, classrooms and even playgrounds are often where adults notice, sometimes by comparing children with their peers, that little ones have sensory, motor, cognitive and learning problems that can benefit from early interventions.”

However, it’s not all negative and there is no reason to fret. Aliza Pressman explains that it’s that day-to-day activities like bath time, feeding time, nappy changes and more that we are still able to do are very important: “It is in those caregiving moments that some of the biggest brain-boosting interactions occur.”

The article also explains that, in fact, babies and toddlers may be developing even better as they are spending more time at home with primary caregivers and are able to have a more one-on-one learning experience that way.

“The youngest of the young are likely to benefit from extra time at home with parents during the pandemic. That’s because secure attachment is the most important foundation for brain and language development.

“In fact, we may find that their language is boosted because of time spent at home with their primary caregivers,” Ms Pressman said. “In some ways, babies are living their best lives.”

If you are worried about the effects of the on-going pandemic on your children, or perhaps are working from home and are finding it hard to balance childcare with a demanding work schedule, why not call in some back-up? At Beauchamp Partners we are experts in finding the perfect candidates for housekeeper jobs and can match you with the ideal helping-hand, giving you more time to focus on the things that are important.

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