How will social distancing affect my child

The Gist:

  • Your kiddo learns the most from you and other adults during the first few years of life

  • When they get older, it gets a little more tricky

  • Every child is different: pay attention to the signals your child is sending you


Read more…

As a parent, it’s tough to not be a little (ALWAYS) worried. We worry about our children's happiness, their development, their physical health and their emotional well being.


With social distancing rules in place all over the country, parents have one more thing to worry about. 


Will social distancing affect my child’s development and emotional health?


For toddlers, the short answer is no, not really. 


Very young children use their time for many things: entertainment, discovery, releasing energy, and: learning. 


They learn empathy, companionship, how to cooperate, how to share, imagination, and turn taking skills. But the truth is, if your child is under 3 years of age, practicing social distancing shouldn’t affect your child’s development…


...because you are able to provide them with the same opportunities for learning that they would have while playing with other children.


It does require more of your time (which is not always easy). But you ARE able to provide them with everything they need to learn the same lessons as they would through social time.


If your Little is closer to 6 years old and beyond, you’ll want to consider how social they were before the restrictions. They probably miss their friends.  But you don’t need a lot of friends: just one or two. A few neighborhood kids and/or siblings, or a pod made up of a good school friend will provide them with enough interaction and play time to learn those important skills of give and take.


You, as a parent, can be all that your child needs for learning to navigate social situations. As they get older they may need a little more time with peers. 


Remember that every child is different and has different needs. Some are great at self-entertaining, and some may demand more attention. Some kids are social butterflies and others just have one close friend. Make your peace with those differences if you can. Stay in tune, communicate and set aside time to just “be” with your kiddos when you can.


All my best-

Gabriele

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