(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) A recently released study from the Institute of Fiscal Studies revealed that children faced serious social and emotional developmental issues as a result of the extreme lockdowns in the United Kingdom.
The report indicated that children between ages four and seven were 52% more likely to suffer from developmental problems than kids ages 12 to 15, according to Summit News.
Children whose parents were forced to take a leave of absence from their jobs were “significantly more likely to experience a worsening in their socio-emotional skills than those whose parents had not been furloughed (51% versus 45%).”
Andrew McKendrick, author of the study, commented on the fact that children across various demographics saw negative changes in their social skills.
“Children lived through many changes during these years: school closures, lack of contact with friends and family, and potentially devastating severe illness or death among loved ones,” McKendrick continued, adding that the lockdowns have had “multi-generational impacts.”
Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza expressed concern for the long-term welfare of the thousands of children who struggled through the pandemic.
‘This study shows that the disruption the pandemic caused to children’s development has been long-lasting,” de Souza added.
Member of the parents’ advocacy group UsForThem, Arabella Skinner, pointed out that the welfare of children was not prioritized and they became “collateral damage.”
“It is an unavoidable fact that many of our children’s development has been negatively impacted by the pandemic restrictions,” Skinner asserted, further urging that “The Government must take action now – they need to support all the services which support our children and ensure that this never happens again.”
Several other studies into the effect of the lockdowns on children displayed the widespread depression, learning loss, immunity damage and developmental loss children must deal with going forward.
