More or Less: Behind the Stats How did lockdown impact children?
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Mar 17, 2025 The lockdown drastically altered children's lives, overshadowing their limited risk from COVID-19. Young students faced significant learning loss, with assessments revealing concerning declines in writing skills. Child development challenges intensified, especially for preschoolers, alongside rising school absenteeism rates. Mental health issues surged, with increased anxiety and loneliness among youth. Despite some recovery in educational progress, disparities remain, particularly affecting lower-income families, highlighting a widening achievement gap.
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COVID's Impact on Young People
- COVID-19 itself had minimal clinical impact on young people, comparable to other respiratory infections.
- Restrictions implemented to protect older generations from the virus disproportionately affected children and young people.
Preschooler Development During Lockdown
- Preschoolers' development may have been delayed due to limited social interaction during lockdowns, especially in language and self-regulation.
- Their experiences varied greatly depending on their home environment and caregivers' coping mechanisms.
Learning Loss and Recovery
- Initial assessments showed a significant decline in Year 7 students' writing skills after the first lockdown, equivalent to 18 months of progress lost.
- This learning loss was later recovered by the end of Year 9, demonstrating a V-shaped recovery in education.