How the Pandemic Could Affect the Long-Term Social Development of Kids

As we are all aware things have changed in recent months. Our professional and personal relationships have shifted, flipped and flopped 10 times over. As adults we have to the tools to manage the uncertainty caused from COVID-19. A question I continue to ask myself is, what does this mean for kids in the long run?

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Leah Campbell provides the following list:

• Social distancing may be particularly difficult for some children and teens.
• As children get older and more socially adept, their peer group becomes the more important hub of their social development than their immediate family.
• Experts say that while some parents may worry about the impact stay-at-home orders can have on a child’s social development, they will likely bounce back quickly if isolation only lasts a few months.
• Kids may be lonely and in need of some additional attention and support from parents during this time.

Social distancing in the short term may not have a large impact on kids, but if this type of separated interactions continues for a longer period, teens may suffer down the road. Amy Learmonth explains the following:

“Our brains go through their two biggest growth spurts during infancy and adolescence. These are the two periods where our brains are the most malleable and primed for learning.”

“If our teens’ experiences are stunted during this time, if they’re short-changed on opportunities to grow, learn, and develop, I believe the impact from prolonged isolation will be greater on them.”

How Parents can Help Kids Continue to Socially Develop While Stuck at Home

Here are a couple helpful tips Leah Campbell created to outline what parents can do to help kids develop at home:

1. Provide opportunities for interactive play
2. Give them outs
3. Understand their need to be online
4. Encourage exercise every day

I think it’s important to note that there are no perfect answers, but it is important to remind the parents and kids we work with to do the best they can. Resources for many of the families we work with are stretched thin, academics may not be a top priority.  We can continue to provide our families with creative and unique self-regulation techniques, in order to handle situations, the best they can. There is an ancient phrase that states, “it takes a village to raise a child” During these unprecedented times no more than every WE are that village.

Read the full Healthline Article to learn more about how the pandemic impacts the long-term social development of children.

Blog Post Written By: Davonte Wilson, Behavior Support Specialist