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Pandemic reshapes childhood development
Five years after COVID-19 lockdowns began, educators and researchers are documenting lasting effects on children's physical, social, and cognitive growth. From hesitant climbers to delayed language skills, the pandemic's disruption of early childhood experiences is leaving measurable marks.
Classroom observations reveal stark changes
Rebekah Underwood, a preschool teacher in Santa Monica, California, noticed immediate differences when schools reopened in 2021. The current class of 2025-children who were infants when the pandemic hit-shows unusual caution in basic movements.
"Many kids are not able to roll, not able to jump on two feet, they are very hesitant to climb. It makes me wonder if it's tied to the lack of outdoor exploration during their toddler years."
Rebekah Underwood, preschool teacher
Underwood's school suspended music classes for two years because the noise overwhelmed students. Half the class would leave during sessions, unable to cope with the stimulation. This year, music has been slowly reintroduced, with noticeable improvements.
Research uncovers cognitive and social gaps
The Born in Covid Year Core Lockdown Effects (Bicycle) study in England is tracking 600 children born before, during, and after lockdowns. Preliminary findings suggest those born during the pandemic have fewer words and struggle with higher-level thinking skills like inhibition and focus.
"The overall picture is that communication seems to have been impacted. Babies born during strict lockdowns missed public social interactions-waving at people, hearing different voices, or seeing faces talk."
Nicola Botting, developmental psychologist, City St George's, University of London
Researchers emphasize that early social experiences are critical for brain development, even if babies appear passive.
Education losses translate to economic risks
Global test scores reveal a 14% decline in mathematics-equivalent to seven months of lost learning. Disadvantaged students, boys, and immigrants were hardest hit. A 2025 study estimates these gaps could cost trillions in future earnings, with the U.S. economy facing annual losses of $128-188 billion as the class of 2020 enters the workforce.
"The gaps are there, and they are not disappearing. Targeted interventions like small-group tutoring are expensive but necessary."
Maciej Jakubowski, education researcher, University of Warsaw
In Europe, students lost 1-3 months of learning, with Poland and Greece seeing losses three times higher. Recovery efforts have shown mixed success, with advantaged students rebounding faster.
Mental health and long-term health concerns
The pandemic exacerbated trends like childhood obesity. In the UK, an additional 56,000 children aged 10-11 became obese during lockdowns, with estimated long-term costs of £8.7 billion. Studies also report increased anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems, though some children showed improved emotional maturity due to exposure to complex topics like daily fatality counts.
"When children experience adversities, like neighborhood violence or parental divorce, they often develop emotional maturity. During COVID, they were exposed to big, complicated topics daily."
Judith Perrigo, education researcher, UCLA
Signs of recovery and calls for action
Underwood's latest class shows progress-more adventurous play and better tolerance for music. However, social-emotional development remains challenging. UCLA's Perrigo warns that without concentrated efforts, downward trends in cognitive and social skills will persist.
"The trajectories are clear-they've been declining for years. There's no reason to believe they'll improve on their own."
Judith Perrigo
Researchers hope findings will inform strategies for future crises, including supporting isolated communities. For now, the full impact of the pandemic on this generation will unfold over decades.
