Young children experience the world as an ‘environment of relationships’, which affect virtually all aspects of their development, according to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. However, children of the pandemic experienced very little social contact outside the home during lockdowns, and early years practitioners are perfectly placed to observe how these children have been affected.
Lecturer, author and trainer Dr Mine Conkbayir explains, ‘The fundamental importance of social connections in early childhood simply cannot be overstated.
‘Children benefit from abundant social contact both with other children and adults, developing essential skills such as communication, co-operation, taking turns, sharing, negotiating, empathising, creating and following rules and managing conflict, while learning about social cues and social norms, increasing a sense of belonging and resilience, and decreasing stress.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
