According to a recent report from the Saul Zaentz Early Learning study at Harvard, 58% of parents said the development of their 3 to 4 year-old's has been harmed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The academic and emotional struggles for the youngest children might not have gotten as much attention than for the older ones, but they also had serious effects.
More than half of the parents revealed they have noticed a negative impact on their kids' social-emotional development, which is related to their abilities to manage emotions and relationships, and learn. Early childhood educators reported similar problems; 53% of them mentioned behavioral changes, 77% of those changes being considered as negative, like more temper tantrums, more crying, more difficulty of separation from parents, or sadness about not meeting family and friends.
However, not all the revelations from Harvard's report are bad: 23% of educators said they have seen positive changes in kids they care for, such as more excitement and independence in classrooms. And for their part, families reported they found "solace and comfort" from being closer. So, even if pre-K enrollment dropped during the pandemic - meaning that many young kids have been missing the acquisition of some foundational skills - 80% of parents said that their family has spent more time together.
Picture: Arcanys Early Learning Foundation
