Early childhood education and care (ECEC) during COVID‐19 boosts growth in language and executive function

Infant and Child Development, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 30(4)

Published: May 21, 2021

Abstract High‐quality, centre‐based education and care during the early years benefit cognitive development, especially in children from disadvantaged backgrounds. During COVID‐19 pandemic its associated lockdowns, access to childhood (ECEC) was disrupted. We investigate how this period affected developmental advantages typically offered by ECEC. Using parent‐report data 189 families living UK, we explore associations between time spent ECEC 8‐to‐36‐month‐olds, their socioeconomic background, growth language executive functions Spring Winter 2020. Receptive vocabulary greater who continued attend period, with a stronger positive effect for less advantaged The of (CEFs) boosted attendance regardless background. Our findings highlight importance high‐quality development key skills levelling inequalities.

Language: Английский

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Not all babies are in the same boat: Exploring the effects of socioeconomic status, parental attitudes, and activities during the 2020 COVID‐19 pandemic on early Executive Functions

Infancy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 27(3), P. 555 - 581

Published: Jan. 31, 2022

Early executive functions (EFs) lay the foundations for academic and social outcomes. In this parent-report study of 575 UK-based 8- to 36 month olds (218 followed longitudinally), we investigate how variation in home environment before during 2020 pandemic relates infants' emerging EFs. Parent-infant enriching activities were positively associated with infant Cognitive Executive Function (CEF) (encompassing inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility). During most-restrictive UK lockdown-but not subsequently-socioeconomic status (SES) was levels parent-infant activities. Parents who regard fostering early learning, affection, attachment as important more likely engage activities, yet there no significant pathway from parental attitudes or SES CEF via Infant screen use negatively Regulation. Screen fully mediated effect on CEF, partially regulation. Parental toward did significantly influence use. These results indicate that although development EFs, interventions targeting a means increasing thus EF are be less effective than reducing barriers engaging

Language: Английский

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Toward a dimensional model of risk and protective factors influencing children's early cognitive, social, and emotional development during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Infancy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(1), P. 158 - 186

Published: Aug. 22, 2022

Abstract Variation in infants’ home environment is implicated their cognitive and psycho‐social development. The pandemic has intensified variations environments through exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities, increasing psychological stressors for some families. This study investigates the effects of parental (predominantly maternal) mental health, enriching activities screen use on 280 24‐ to 52‐month‐olds’ executive functions, internalising externalising problems, pro‐social behaviour; with status social support as contextual factors. Our results indicate that aspects are differentially associated children’s Parents who experienced sustained distress during tended report higher child function difficulties at follow‐up. Children spent more time engaged parents showed stronger functions competence six months later. Screen levels first year were not outcomes. To mitigate risk persistent negative this ‘pandemic generation’ infants, our highlights importance supporting parents’ health. As demonstrate impact investing services interventions promoting building networks likely be beneficial.

Language: Английский

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‘I just had to park up at the hospital and leave her’: A retrospective interview study of pregnancy, birth and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

Journal of family & child health., Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 2(1), P. 20 - 29

Published: Jan. 2, 2025

Lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on many aspects of people's lives. In UK, evidence showed higher rates stress and depression among parents restrictions. Disruption to early years education affected preschoolers' language cognitive development, associations between parental health child behaviour were apparent. The longer-term consequences infants born restrictions, who are now approaching school age, not yet known. This study focused parents' retrospective reflections pandemic, aimed explore effects lockdown children families. followed retrospective, qualitative interview design. Recruitment sampling ensured views gathered from people different genders, sexual orientations, birth/adoptive status geographic areas. Seventeen participants interviewed. Three overarching themes emerged: navigating antenatal postnatal care alone; difficult decisions when caring for an infant long shadow family. Major issues which emerged included attending appointments – in some cases giving birth limited care; disrupted leave; changes employment strained relationships. event future should accommodate couples same household more pragmatically, children's developmental checks be deprioritised. Finally, as part post-pandemic provision, in-person consistent provision remain vital services must acknowledged

Language: Английский

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Breaking Barriers: Promoting Parent-Child Engagement with Co-Produced Activity Packs for 1-to-3-Year-Olds

Journal of Child and Family Studies, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 7, 2025

Language: Английский

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Infants’ and toddlers’ language development during the pandemic: Socioeconomic status mattered

Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 236, P. 105744 - 105744

Published: July 22, 2023

Language: Английский

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Examining the relationship between language development, executive function, and screen time: A systematic review

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(12), P. e0314540 - e0314540

Published: Dec. 26, 2024

This systematic review study examines the relationship between language development, executive function, and screen time in early childhood. The childhood period is a crucial phase for development of brain, during which fundamental function skills undergo rapid evolution. synthesizes findings from 14 peer-reviewed studies that focused on together to provide comprehensive understanding their relationship. current were categorized under four themes: content adherence guidelines, parent-child interaction family context, passive active time, attention issues. suggest interactive educational may positively influence functions when aligned with recommended guidelines. In contrast, excessive such as watching television, has been associated negative impacts cognitive social skills, particularly affecting attention, memory, emotional regulation. prevalence problems found be higher individuals who engage high levels time. highlights necessity balanced consumption media. emphasizes pivotal role interaction, where high-quality engagement verbal scaffolding can mitigate adverse effects. Furthermore, socioeconomic cultural factors also play significant role. Higher status (SES) families are better able manage leverage support development. These have potential inform actions parents, educators, policymakers. Adherence guidelines impact skills. importance limiting ensuring balance use real-world interactions opportunities highlighted.

Language: Английский

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Parental Resources in Parents of Children with Special Needs (SNs) at the Time of COVID-19

Journal of Clinical Medicine, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 12(2), P. 475 - 475

Published: Jan. 6, 2023

Background. The limitations imposed by governments for containing the spread of COVID-19 have affected familial relationships, especially those families dealing with children special needs or chronic illness conditions. current study aims to better understand what pathological/disability condition has impacted parental resources, sense competence, and perception children’s executive functioning most. Methods. A sample 648 parents was asked answer a survey assessing (typical development, specific learning disorder, autism spectrum syndrome, illness), parenting competence (distinguished into satisfaction self-efficacy), parents’ their functioning. MANOVA model performed assess differences in functions according condition. path analysis examine impact on resources functions. Results. Parents disorder reported lower scores terms total scores, common antecedents, antecedents compared typically developed (total scores: MD = 56.45, p < 0.001; antecedents: 22.28, 0.00; 34.17, 0.001), autistic 62.79, 0.01; 24.03, 38.76, 0.02) 37.42, 0.04; 16.59, 0.01). shows direct effect (β 0.26) pathology/disability −0.10) that, turn, influence 0.24). Conclusion. Although no data about prepandemic situation is available, highlights that stress cognition. Moreover, seemed be challenged during COVID-19, disorders, are already stressed out Therefore, academic services should undertake preventive measures preserve well-being provide supportive environment children, atypical development.

Language: Английский

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In the pandemic from the womb. Prenatal exposure, maternal psychological stress and mental health in association with infant negative affect at 6 months of life

Development and Psychopathology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 36(2), P. 810 - 820

Published: Feb. 16, 2023

Abstract For mother-infant health especially, the pandemic has brought multiple stressors inside a susceptible psychobiological system. We study longitudinal associations between maternal prenatal and postpartum: (a) COVID-19 stressful events exposure, (b) psychological stress, (c) mental infants’ negative affect. A sample of 643 Italian pregnant women completed web-based survey from April 8 th to May 4 , 2020 follow-up at 6 months after delivery. Maternal assessment covered postpartum measures for: symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder) postpartum, social support report during pregnancy, peak pandemic, is longitudinally associated with infant affect, mediating this association. Also, exposure in affect mediated by symptoms. pregnancy predicted postpartum. The supports association pandemic-related across offspring’s development affect). It also puts spotlight on risk experiencing lockdown especially when feeling high or directly exposed

Language: Английский

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Growth of Executive Functions in Preschool-Age Children During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Empirical Evidence

Psychology in Russia State of Art, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 2, P. 125 - 136

Published: Jan. 1, 2022

During the lockdown for COVID-19, children were limited in a number of activities which are essential development executive functions (play, social interaction, and organized sport). Earlier studies found an increase function issues during pandemic, based on caregivers' reports.The present study was pioneer exploring dynamics children's lockdown. Our purpose to explore effect growth over one-year period, as compared their peers before pandemic.The sample consisted two cohorts children. All had been attending same kindergartens but different periods time. The both groups assessed twice, with year's break in-between (the first group pandemic; second, pandemic). These comparable gender composition, age, family's place residence.The results have confirmed concerns about slower functioning versus especially cognitive flexibility working memory. Inhibition not significantly affected by Moderation analysis showed that impacted girls differently than boys terms negative restrictions memory higher females.Our findings illuminate effects pandemic-related For memory, isolation varied depending child's gender.

Language: Английский

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