COVID-19 and Its Effects on Social-Emotional Well-Being in Early Childhood
Effects on Children, Educators, and Parents
Effects on Children, Educators, and Parents
Behavioral Issues in Schools
Behavioral Issues in Schools
Children affected by the pandemic have exhibited significant behavioral challenges, such as emotional dysregulation, aggression, and difficulty with peer interactions. Teachers report increased stress and burnout as they navigate these challenges, showing the need for additional resources and trauma-informed training.
Children affected by the pandemic have exhibited significant behavioral challenges, such as emotional dysregulation, aggression, and difficulty with peer interactions. Teachers report increased stress and burnout as they navigate these challenges, showing the need for additional resources and trauma-informed training.
Effects on Parent-Child Relationships
Effects on Parent-Child Relationships
The pandemic disrupted family routines and increased stress for parents, affecting their ability to provide emotional support. This has led to attachment issues, anxiety, and emotional difficulties in children. Positive parenting programs and stress management strategies can help rebuild these relationships.
The pandemic disrupted family routines and increased stress for parents, affecting their ability to provide emotional support. This has led to attachment issues, anxiety, and emotional difficulties in children. Positive parenting programs and stress management strategies can help rebuild these relationships.
Social and Emotional Learning Challenges
Social and Emotional Learning Challenges
Remote learning during the pandemic limited opportunities for children to develop important social skills. Educators continue to address these gaps, but many face burnout due to increased workloads. SEL-focused resources and teacher support are necessary for fostering recovery in children.
Remote learning during the pandemic limited opportunities for children to develop important social skills. Educators continue to address these gaps, but many face burnout due to increased workloads. SEL-focused resources and teacher support are necessary for fostering recovery in children.
Impacts on Early Childhood Educators
Impacts on Early Childhood Educators
Educators are navigating the dual burden of academic instruction and addressing social-emotional challenges in students. This stress has resulted in staffing shortages. This can be solved through systemic changes, including improved teacher support systems.
Educators are navigating the dual burden of academic instruction and addressing social-emotional challenges in students. This stress has resulted in staffing shortages. This can be solved through systemic changes, including improved teacher support systems.
Proposed Solutions
Proposed Solutions
Recovery requires parents, teachers, and communities to collaborate by:
Recovery requires parents, teachers, and communities to collaborate by:
- Organizing low-pressure social opportunities (playdates, extracurriculars).
- Providing access to child therapists for emotional regulation support.
- Hiring teacher aides to assist with classroom management.
- Offering resilience-focused parenting programs.
Support for Children: Resources for Educators and Parents
Support for Children: Resources for Educators and Parents
Local Resources for Parents and Educators in Fairbanks, Alaska
Local Resources for Parents and Educators in Fairbanks, Alaska
To support children in their social-emotional recovery, these local resources can help:
To support children in their social-emotional recovery, these local resources can help:
Parent Support and Education
Parent Support and Education
Resource Center for Parents and Children (RCPC)
Offers parenting classes, workshops, and family support services.
Resource Center for Parents and Children (RCPC)
Offers parenting classes, workshops, and family support services.
Mental Health Services
Mental Health Services
Fairbanks Community Mental Health Services
Provides counseling and therapy for children and families experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges.
Fairbanks Community Mental Health Services
Provides counseling and therapy for children and families experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges.
- Phone: (907) 371-1300
Early Childhood Development Programs
Early Childhood Development Programs
Thrive Alaska
Focuses on child development through Early Head Start and Head Start programs, supporting families with young children.
Thrive Alaska
Focuses on child development through Early Head Start and Head Start programs, supporting families with young children.
Educational Support
Educational Support
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (FNSBSD)
Offers SEL programs and resources for students to build resilience and emotional skills.
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District (FNSBSD)
Offers SEL programs and resources for students to build resilience and emotional skills.
Social and Recreational Opportunities
Social and Recreational Opportunities
Fairbanks Children’s Museum
Engage your child in interactive play and developmentally appropriate activities to build social skills.
Fairbanks Children’s Museum
Engage your child in interactive play and developmentally appropriate activities to build social skills.
Trauma-Informed Support
Trauma-Informed Support
Interior Alaska Center for Nonviolent Living (IACNVL)
Provides counseling, educational programs, and support for families dealing with trauma.
Interior Alaska Center for Nonviolent Living (IACNVL)
Provides counseling, educational programs, and support for families dealing with trauma.
Sources
Sources
Behavioral Issues in Schools
Behavioral Issues in Schools
- Brockmeier et al. (2024). The Return to In-Person School: Teacher Reports of Student Behavior and Social–Emotional Learning.
Read more - Monjarás Rodríguez and Albores-Gallo (2024). Emotional and Behavioral Problems of Mexican Preschoolers before and during the Pandemic of COVID-19.
Read more
Parent-Child Relationship Dynamics
Parent-Child Relationship Dynamics
- Burcu Izci et al. (2023). Parent–Child Play and Coping: Experiences of Parents and Young Children during the Pandemic.
Read more
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Challenges
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Challenges
- Chen and Adams (2022). Drawing from and Expanding Their Toolboxes: Preschool Teachers’ Traditional Strategies, Unconventional Opportunities, and Novel Challenges in Scaffolding Young Children’s Social and Emotional Learning during Remote Instruction amidst COVID-19.
Read more
Impact on Early Educators
Impact on Early Educators
- Brockmeier et al. (2024). The Return to In-Person School: Teacher Reports of Student Behavior and Social–Emotional Learning.
Read more
Proposed Solutions
Proposed Solutions
- Erwin and Frey (2023). Reconnecting: Positive Discipline Skills to Support Social and Emotional Development in Young Children Affected by COVID-19.
Read more