Child psychotherapist
Teachers in Ireland report significantly more social and emotional issues in children starting junior infants than in previous years. The study authors, Dr Suzanne Egan and Dr Jennifer Pope, from Mary Immaculate College, concluded that many of these difficulties resulted from the pandemic lockdowns around the time these children were born.
Not everyone is convinced, but it’s not uncommon for people to believe that environmental or life events do not affect infants.
I have conducted many clinical assessments of significant family events being dismissed as unrelated to the child’s difficulties because ‘they were too young to remember that’.
However, just because we cannot remember something does not mean it does not have a lasting impact.
The first 1,000 days of a child’s life see extraordinary development. These early years shape the brain’s architecture, laying the foundation for cognitive, social, and emotional wellbeing. Secure attachment between infants and their caregivers is crucial. It influences how children regulate emotions, develop relationships, and build resilience.
Lockdowns disrupted many aspects of early childhood, which may have negatively affected children’s attachment and social and emotional development.
Attachment refers to the deep emotional bond between an infant and their primary caregiver, typically a parent.
Psychologists John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth pioneered attachment theory, emphasising that secure attachment arises when children experience adequate stimulation, consistently and predictably. This security forms the basis for emotional stability and a healthy sense of self.
The first 1,000 days are also critical for attachment formation because of rapid brain growth. At birth, an infant’s brain is about 25% of its adult size; by age three, it is 90%. Neural connections (synapses) form incredibly rapidly, with about one million new connections formed per second in the first three years.
Caregiving interactions heavily influence this rapid neural development. When a caregiver reliably soothes distress, engages in eye contact, and provides comfort, neural pathways associated with trust and emotional regulation strengthen. Conversely, anxious caregiving can contribute to insecure attachment, linked to difficulties in emotional regulation and relationship-building.
While lockdowns and social-distancing measures were necessary to contain the spread of covid, they also disrupted many aspects of daily life that support healthy infant-caregiver attachment.
1. General atmosphere of fear and tension
It is easy to forget how, during the pandemic, we were so worried about spreading the virus that we were washing our groceries, jumping out of the way of people while out walking, and frantically reaching for masks as soon as anyone came near us. Infants and children were not oblivious to this incredibly tense atmosphere. Even non-immediate family members wearing masks would have impeded an infant’s capacity to read facial expressions, on which they rely in the absence of language.
2. Increased parental stress and mental health struggles
The pandemic created uncertainty, job insecurity, and social isolation. Parents faced increased financial pressure and childcare challenges, while managing their own mental-health struggles. Parental stress significantly impacts infant attachment. If stressed and overwhelmed, they may be less emotionally available, and thus inconsistent in responsiveness. Infants are learning and developing at an accelerated rate and are programmed to be attuned to their environment, so they are sensitive to tension in the atmosphere or anxieties around them.
3. Reduced social interaction and support
Infants rely on their primary caregivers, extended family members, childcare providers, and community support systems for social engagement. Lockdowns prevented many parents from accessing in-person support groups, postnatal services, and even informal interactions with friends and family.
This lack of social support increased caregivers’ burden and reduced opportunities for infants to experience a range of social interactions. While we might dismiss these interactions as unimportant, they are crucial for emotional and social development.
4. Delayed interventions and healthcare access
During the pandemic, many routine paediatric check-ups, developmental screenings, and interventions, such as speech or occupational therapy, were delayed for young children during lockdowns. These early interventions are crucial in mitigating long-term challenges for children at risk of developmental delays. Missed opportunities for early intervention can exacerbate developmental difficulties, especially for infants with medical or neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities.
5. Disruptions in early learning environments
While babies primarily bond with their parents, exposure to safe, structured environments, such as daycare settings, is crucial in helping infants develop confidence in relationships beyond the home.
Some might argue that generations of children born before creches were set up developed confidence in relationships outside the home. However, there was typically far more involvement from extended family and close-knit communities back then.
Pandemic-related closures limited these opportunities, potentially affecting the social adaptability and resilience of children born around this time. Studies suggest that reduced exposure to varied social environments during early years can lead to increased stranger anxiety and difficulties in forming relationships later in life.
During the lockdowns, everyday formative experiences, like visiting grandparents and going to the shops or church, were not part of family life.
Along with the impact of social isolation, the proliferation of screen usage during that period also contributed to changes in children’s social and emotional development. Excessive screen time can reduce face-to-face interactions, which are crucial for learning social cues, empathy, and emotional regulation.
The new term ‘technoference’ describes where screen exposure may interfere with bonding experiences between toddlers and caregivers, leading to potential emotional insecurity. Fast-paced digital content can make it harder for toddlers to develop patience and focus. Excessive screen exposure, especially before bedtime, can interfere with sleep quality and emotional wellbeing.
Despite these challenges, it is possible to support healthy attachment. Here are some strategies that might help:
1. Prioritise responsive and attuned parenting
Even when stressed, being emotionally present for your child is crucial. Responding to their cues, engaging in eye contact, and using soothing tones can strengthen attachment bonds.
Children need to feel safe and understood, and small, consistent moments of connection matter more than perfection. Helping children develop language skills gives them the tools to understand and express emotion, which is crucial for their social and emotional development.
2. Create a predictable environment
All small children thrive on routine and consistency. Establishing predictable feeding, sleep, and play schedules helps them develop a sense of security. Even in uncertain times, maintaining daily rituals, such as bedtime routines and family mealtimes, will provide a sense of stability for a child.
3. Encourage social interaction when possible
Providing opportunities for infants and young children to interact with other caregivers, family members, and peers is essential.
This social engagement is even more important if early opportunities to do this have been disrupted. Even brief interactions can positively impact their social and emotional development, so all opportunities for this should be capitalised.
4. Seek professional guidance
Consulting a paediatrician, child psychologist, or therapist could be beneficial if you notice signs of attachment difficulties, such as extreme clinginess, withdrawal, or difficulty regulating emotions when they are upset. Early intervention can significantly improve long-term outcomes.
Though pandemic restrictions are no longer in place, waiting times for healthcare supports, like developmental assessments, remain unacceptably long. We need our policymakers to acknowledge the importance of the formative years and invest in supporting parents through this critical period.
While parents play a central role in attachment, collective, broader societal support is also essential. Governments and healthcare systems must recognise the crucial importance of early childhood development and provide accessible mental-health support for parents, affordable childcare options, and funding for early intervention programmes. Policies prioritising paid parental leave and workplace flexibility also help caregivers be more present during this key developmental window.
While pandemic lockdowns disrupted many aspects of early development, understanding the consequences, as outlined in the MIC study, allows us to take proactive steps in mitigating their impact.
By fostering responsive caregiving, strengthening support systems, and advocating for policies that prioritise early childhood development, we can ensure that our children have the secure foundation they need to thrive even in times of crisis.
The fifth anniversary of the pandemic is an opportunity to reflect on its impacts.
As parents, caregivers and educationalists, we have learned that social distancing is not without consequences and developmental ramifications, even for very young children. When we invest in the first 1,000 days, we are shaping children’s childhood and their future.
