Early life experiences and the process of exploration play a vital role in shaping brain development and lifelong learning. In March 2020, population-wide restrictions were imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains to be determined whether having been raised under the global stress and restrictions of COVID-19 has influenced children’s development as they enter formal schooling. The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which having more than 50% of one’s first year of life and/or prenatal period in the COVID-19 era influences the developmental trajectory in preschool. The study compared 3- to 5-year-old children born before the pandemic (n = 63) with those who were five months or younger at its onset (n = 40). Variables assessed included executive function skills, vocabulary, and common developmental domains. Using the BRIEF-P as a standardized measure of executive function, the results demonstrate that the pandemic-born cohort exhibit greater impairments than those born before the pandemic. There was also a significant increase in reports of speech and language therapy enrollment; frequent ear infections; diagnoses of hearing, speech, or language impairments; and delays in reaching developmental milestones. The pandemic-born cohort additionally reported delays in fine motor skills compared to the pre-pandemic cohort. The present study underscores the urgent need for additional resources to better support children in this cohort as they begin formal schooling.
Sade et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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