Pandemic Babies Turn 5: AHN Pediatricians Offer Guidance for Parents as Children Born in 2020 Head to Kindergarten

Parents, researchers monitoring COVID-19’s lingering effect on child development

PITTSBURGH – The oldest of the “pandemic babies” – those born in early 2020 – are heading off to kindergarten this month. And while the 3.5 million U.S. children born between March 2020 and 2021 have been more resilient than anyone could have imagined, educators, parents and doctors are anxious to see what impact the pandemic experience will have on young learners as they step into new schools and begin their educational journeys.

“These were the children who were born in the time of lockdowns, and therefore were less exposed to interactions with adults and peers, had lower preschool attendance, and in some instances saw their screen time increase by nearly two hours every day,” said Joe Aracri, DO, Chair of the Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Pediatric Institute.

Children who missed out on the pre-school or daycare experience due to COVID-19 often show more noticeable signs of social delays – but more socially exposed peers may have also absorbed the stresses and isolating effects of the early pandemic.

“As a result, we have seen some emotional and developmental challenges in this age group,” Dr. Aracri said. “We strongly encourage our families to work alongside our skilled pediatricians and clinicians through these fundamental years to ensure that their health and development milestones are being met.”

In an ongoing longitudinal study of child neurodevelopment published in Biological Psychiatry (doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.02.082 ), researchers demonstrated that children born during the pandemic (since July 2020) have significantly reduced verbal, motor, and overall cognitive performance compared to children born pre-pandemic.

Pediatricians have also noted that children in this cohort have a lesser-developed ability to regulate emotions, are slower to master fine motor skills (like holding a pencil, for example), and have been slower to communicate clearly and play directly with peers.

Direct play is an important developmental benchmark and is considered a prerequisite for kindergarten readiness, but for many pandemic babies, parallel play – that is, playing side by side – persisted more deeply into the toddler years, Dr. Aracri said.

AHN pediatricians offered the following tips for families whose pandemic babies – or older children – are headed back to the classroom for the 2025-2026 academic school year:

• Communicate openly, and often, with your child about their day, and watch for signs of increasing anxiety. These can include sleep problems, appetite changes, or increased irritability. 
• Ease anxieties by familiarizing your child with their school. Do a "dry run" of the school route, tour the school, and introduce yourselves to the teachers, sharing any concerns you may have prior to the first day.
• Establish a quiet study space and healthy sleep schedule routine.
• Keep your child's wellness exams up to date to ensure he/she is meeting necessary developmental milestones, as determined by your pediatrician and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In certain situations, early intervention can be critical for a child’s ongoing progress in verbal, fine motor and social skills. Your established pediatric care team will assist with the appropriate referrals, if necessary.
• Set screen time limits and boundaries on content. Not all screen time is a bad thing; for kids 2 to 5, the AAP recommends approximately one hour per day of educational, high-quality screen time. If you’re able, watch the program with them and interact as much as possible to make it an engaging experience for the entire family.
• Familiarize yourself with pediatric-specific mental health resources, including:
• Emmy-nominated Cai & Kate, a YouTube show developed by a team of AHN behavioral health specialists to help preschool and elementary-aged children understand and regulate “big” feelings and hone their emotional wellness. The series, in its third season, stars a chameleon puppet (Cai) whose color changes depending on his emotions, and a human friend (Kate) who provides commentary on the various feelings portrayed in the show.
• Mental Well-Being Powered by Spring Health is a comprehensive behavioral health program offered to all Highmark members (6 years and older, including CHIP enrollees) that provides virtual or in-person treatment spanning from daily wellness support to therapy, medication management, coaching and 24/7 crisis support. Appointments can be available within three days or less.  

For children demonstrating a need for a more involved level of clinical intervention with regard to emotional wellness, parents are encouraged to speak with their pediatrician or make an appointment with a clinician at the AHN Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Institute, which employs numerous physicians board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry.

“For many children starting this new academic year and new life chapter, it will be an adjustment – and by having a skilled pediatric team behind you, that adjustment can be much more manageable,” Dr. Aracri concluded.

To make an appointment with an AHN pediatrician or with a member of the AHN Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Institute, call 412-DOCTORS.  

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