We are only now learning the impact of the pandemic on children’s emotional development.
A recent report from the IFS and UCL found that the instability of the labour market for parents (some of whom were furloughed or lost their jobs), school and nursery closures, lack of contact with friends and death and illness among families all set back children’s emotional development significantly. 
Over half of parents of four- to seven-year-olds believed their child’s emotional and social development had worsened during the height of the pandemic.
Some health visitors were unable to do face-to-face two-year development reviews during the lockdowns, and those that were done took place over the phone or online.
Many parents were not able to access follow-up services such as speech and language help where they were needed, because they weren’t running or they were so oversubscribed.
Some health visitors did share information regarding online activities for children under five years, but not all parents were able to access these, for a variety of reasons.
As a health visitor, particularly in the past year, I have visited children about whom there are increasing concerns with delay in emotional and social skills.
Some children do not have age-appropriate toys to play with, or no outdoor area in which to play. Some parents did not know the importance of playing with their children.
Parents informed me their children were born during the pandemic, when they didn’t have access to baby support services, and they did not know what to do with their children in these social ways.
Some parents I see mistake a child’s social difficulties to be autism when often it is just a delay in developing emotional and social skills.
How can early years settings help these children? Here are some tips:
- Talk to parents about how they can create stimulating home environments for children (see this article: https://tinyurl.com/4y23jsmm).
- Help children to have agency by giving them permission just to have fun.
- It is helpful not just to concentrate on a child’s behaviour when there has been a disagreement or problem. Help them to calm down by using co-regulation skills and talk about what happened once they – and you – are calm.
- Invite parents in to play with their children and talk to them about the importance of play.
- Use the outdoors wherever possible.
- The importance of building strong and secure attachments with caregivers at nursery cannot be overstated.
