Covid lockdown linked to rise in child developmental issues
Getty ImagesResearchers said children had "reduced opportunities" outside their homes when Covid restrictions were in place from March 2020The number of toddlers in Scotland showing developmental issues increased during the Covid lockdown, according to a new report.The University of Edinburgh-led study examined health visitor reports on 258,000 children between March 2020 and August 2021. And it found the proportion with at least one developmental concern increased by up to 6.6% across the 72-week period when social distancing measures were in place. Researchers said the findings provided important new data on how the pandemic restrictions affected indicators such as speech, language skills, physical movement and emotional growth. Dr Iain Hardie, of the school of philosophy, psychology and language sciences, said: "Covid-19 public health and social measures (PHSM) played a vital role in curbing the spread of infections during the pandemic. "However, the findings of our study suggest that they also appear to have been associated with increased early childhood development concerns."He told BBC Scotland News it was not possible to say for sure what caused the rise.But he added: "It's possible it could be related to social interaction."We know social interaction can be beneficial for childhood development and, obviously, that was reduced during the pandemic." Getty ImagesFace masks were introduced to prevent the spread of the virus during the pandemicDr Carole Campbell told the BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast programme: "Children were home a lot more, they were exposed to reduced environments and reduced opportunities out of the home as well." The education manager said toddlers were often unable to pick up on social cues as mask-wearing meant "faces were hidden from the nose down."She added: "It is worth bearing in mind that within that period there was limited access to health visitors and other professionals."So children who may have had delays wouldn't have had as prompt access to support as they would have had before Covid."Leanne McGuire, former chair of Glasgow City Parents' Group, told the programme she was not surprised by the report as her group took a lot of calls from anxious parents at the time.She said: "It was quite difficult to signpost parents to resources during that period so you can understand where this study has come from."Those years are so formative for babies and toddlers."It is where they are experiencing a lot of these interactions for the first time."Getty ImagesThe study, published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe 2025 - a resource of medical journals - measured relationships between lockdown measures and issues identified by the health visitors in young children.It assessed more than 80% of all children in Scotland who were aged 13 to 15 months and 27 to 30 months between January 2019 and August 2023.Researchers found concerns about children's development had increased across the 72 weeks where lockdown measures were in place from March 2020.The study, which took account of pre-pandemic trends, is the largest known analysis of data assessing Covid-19 measures on child developmental outcomes at a population level in the UK or Europe.It also found the proportion of children that raised developmental concerns remained higher than pre-pandemic levels, even after lockdown and social distancing measures were removed in August 2021.The report warns: "Our findings highlight the need to target additional support towards children impacted by COVID-19 PHSM, and to continue to monitor their developmental outcomes over time as they get older and more data becomes available. "In addition, future pandemic planning should consider possible impacts of PHSM on child development."Getty ImagesPublic Health and Women's Health Minister Jenni Minto said recognised the impact the pandemic had on children and familiesThe study, in partnership with Public Health Scotland (PHS), was conducted as part of the wider Covid-19 Health Impact on Long-term Child Development in Scotland (CHILDS) study. fProf Bonnie Auyeung, principal researcher and originator of the CHILDS study, said: "With its integrated healthcare system, Scotland is well positioned to enable this kind of population level study."We hope this work will help inform the discussion about how best to support children from the Covid-19 era as they develop over the coming years." The research team also included scientists from PHS, the University of Dundee, the University of Sheffield and the Istituto Italiano di Technologia in Italy.Although it provides evidence of an association between lockdown measures and developmental concerns in young children, the report said the influence of other factors occurring at the same time could not be ruled out.Public Health and Women's Health Minister Jenni Minto said: "While we recognise the impact the pandemic had on children and families, we are working hard to try and ensure every child in Scotland has the best start in life and has their opportunities for early development maximised. "That is why we are aiming to reduce the rate of developmental concerns at 27-30 months by a quarter by 2030."Minto added the offer of a Baby Box, provision of breastfeeding support and investment in funded early learning and childcare were supporting the Scottish government's early child development ambitions.
