COVID-19 Pandemic Only Caused Small Developmental Delays in Young Kids, New Study Finds

Young kids who lived through the COVID-19 pandemic only experienced minor developmental delays, a new study finds.

While some changes occurred….one author says, “The sky is not falling, and that is a really important and reassuring finding.”

The study included more than 50,000 infants and children, 5 and younger, whose parents used a web-based platform to report on their development.

The researchers compared scores from before and during the pandemic for 5 key skills

And found small decreases of 2 to 3% in communication, problem-solving, and personal-social abilities.

There were no changes in fine or gross motor skills.

The authors say while these findings are reassuring, the implications for children’s long-term development remain unclear.