Study reveals COVID-19 pandemic hampers social and emotional development of children in England

According to a survey conducted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), half of all children in England experienced setbacks in their emotional and social development during the first year of the pandemic. Younger siblings were more likely to be negatively affected compared to their older siblings. The research also found that children aged four to seven were more likely to experience a deterioration in their skills compared to 12 to 15-year-olds. The report highlighted that children whose parents’ employment changed due to the pandemic, including those who were furloughed, were particularly at risk of seeing their social and emotional skills worsen. However, only one in six children showed improvement in their social and emotional development during the same period. The study aimed to focus on the impact of parents’ experiences in the labor market on their children’s social and emotional well-being, rather than just their educational outcomes. The research surveyed 6,095 parents in England with children aged four to 16, asking them questions about their child’s behavior and well-being during the pandemic. The study’s findings suggest that economic disruptions experienced by parents have had a significant impact on children’s skills, affecting both wealthier and poorer families. Early years experts have raised concerns about the pandemic’s impact on young children, emphasizing the necessity of early intervention and support for their well-being and development. The Department for Education has not yet provided comment on the study.

FOLLOW US ON GOOGLE NEWS

Read original article here