The youngest generation on the planet, the so-called “children of the pandemic”, who grew up within four walls, is finally coming to light with uncertain social strides.
Since 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the whole world, life still cannot return to its old course, even after it officially ends. It has affected not only the way we live and work, but also the way children, especially those born during this period, perceive the world. Medical Xpress writes that a group of researchers set out to find out how these “pandemic children” fare compared to children born before the pandemic.
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The results of the study show that by age two, children born during the pandemic are generally very similar to their pre-pandemic peers in behavior and development, except in some aspects of communication.
A research team from Ireland followed 354 families with children born in the first months of the pandemic from March to May 2020. For two years, these families visited the researchers when their children were 6, 12, and 24 months old. While authorities around the world implemented quarantine security measures, it was often the only time families went out.
The researchers discovered that as a result of the isolation, these children had little social circle. Events such as parent-child groups were canceled and visits to friends and relatives became rare. On their first birthday, one in four children has not met a single child their age. Parents, on the other hand, described raising children as “alone”, “isolating” and “difficult” during the pandemic, and praised the extra time they spend with family and little ones.
Researchers evaluated ten developmental milestones for children at age one. Fewer of the babies born in the epidemic said their first word, pointed or said goodbye, and more began to crawl. Scientists suggest that due to limited exposure to the outside world and interaction with other people, these children hear fewer words and do not need to learn to wave their arms. However, a more active study of the surrounding world at home can explain the accelerated onset of crawling.
By age two, children born during the pandemic had poorer communication skills than those born before the pandemic, even after controlling for factors such as the mother’s education level and the child’s age at the time of assessment. But the good news is that in other areas of development, such as motor skills and problem solving, these children performed as well as their pre-pandemic peers. The researchers also found no behavioral differences, such as sleep problems, emotional reactivity, or social withdrawal.
The results of this study are consistent with the results of similar studies around the world that showed a slight decrease in developmental indicators in children born during the pandemic.
As the world recovers, researchers emphasize the importance of introducing children born during the pandemic to a wider audience, introducing them to different experiences, talking to them as much as possible, and reading to them. They also encourage parents to screen their child’s progress and contact their healthcare provider if they have any concerns about their child’s development.
This study highlights the adaptability of young children and the impact of the environment on their development. Although the pandemic has undoubtedly affected the early social and communicative development of these children, it is hoped that they will be able to catch up with their peers in a short time with the right support and intervention.
Previously Focus He wrote that from an early age board games develop children’s mathematical abilities. It turns out that Monopoly not only fuels family rivalries, it can also help your child improve their math skills.
Moreover Focus He wrote that rhythmic music helps children with speech disorders communicate better. Scientists have used the power of rhythm to help children with a common language disorder improve their ability to form and repeat sentences.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.