Preschoolers
in particular need social interaction to develop socially and emotionally. The
article from Insider.com suggests how to help compensate for those losses in
Covid-19 times.
All
parents are concerned about what the isolation of Covid is doing to their kids’
development. Even though the Hudson Valley hasn’t technically been on
“lockdown” since the summer, children are still not interacting nearly as much
as normal. Most concerning are preschoolers, who are in particularly important developmental
stages in which progress is dependent on interaction with other kids. Kelly Burch, writing in Insider, gives parents a quick primer on where,
exactly, their preschoolers should be on the developmental spectrum, but even
more importantly, she offers tips on how to take up the slack produced by a
lack of engagement with other little ones.
First off,
she talks to psychotherapist Mary Mendez, who lists the categories of
preschooler development: individuation,
which includes self-control, managing feelings and emotions and learning to
co-operate; identity, which includes understanding that the self is different
from others, and that different people have different rules, beliefs, and
expectations; and self-confidence, which includes having a sense of
self-esteem, initiating social interactions and resolving conflicts.
READ MORE: Play dates 2.0
Dr. Mendez
says: “As preschoolers develop these skills, they practice with the parents, followed
by other immediate family members. As they perfect them, they branch out to
practicing these skills with peers and adults outside the family.”
In the
absence of peers and adults outside the family, Mendez counsels parents to be
vigilant and endeavor to be even more interactive with their young ones. She
advises “cooking, playing games, building, doing crafts, and especially pretend
play all allow your preschooler the chance to learn about social norms like
following directions, sharing, and losing gracefully, even when they're stuck
at home. “
Routine is
important. As is trying your best to provide as much a sense of security as
possible. Don’t downplay any outward expressions of stress. Preschoolers pick
up on these cues and can be easily influenced by them.
Luckily, Mendez
notes, “Young children are by nature resilient, but the effectiveness of their
resiliency and ability to meet developmental milestones are only as good as the
parents' capabilities of modeling and setting examples of resiliency and
adaptive coping."