‘Warning signs’ of long-term lockdown issues in Australia children

While the temporary stress and disruption of lockdowns has been widely talked about, the prolonged impact of pandemic measures on children has parents worried.

New research from integrative healthcare brand SFI Health shows that two-thirds (67 per cent) of Aussies are worried this period will have inflicted long-term impacts on children’s health and wellbeing in the classroom in 2022.

The researchers spoke to more than 2000 Australian parents and found some worrying trends already emerging in children.

Parents said they had noticed increased anxiety, decreased focus and a massive increase in screen-time in their kids.

As children prepare to go back to school this year, leading children’s psychologist Deirdre Brandner believes that one of the biggest challenges for students will be maintaining their cognitive health.

She said their ability to concentrate, stay focused and retain the information that has been impacted after months of disrupted learning.

“Children going back to school in 2022 is a welcome relief to many parents, however, there remains some long-term disadvantages of the remote learning experiences,” she said.

“Parents did their very best to engage children in schoolwork during this time, however the reality was that children had to cope with many challenges. Managing distractions, adapting to learning online, interrupted routines and lack of structured face-to-face learning experiences has impacted their cognitive abilities.”

She said that while kids are resilient, it’s important for parents to be conscious of the “warning signs” that their children are struggling cognitively.

“These include consistently losing focus, becoming very distracted and unable to sit still, or just generally not learning to the pace they used to be able to,” she said.

The research also found;

• One-in-three Aussies (33 per cent) believe the various changes to school routines will impact children’s learning, as well as increase their social/general anxiety (23 per cent) and decrease their focus (22 per cent).

• One-quarter of parents (23 per cent) identified being unhappy with online learning, as it led to their children being more distracted and unable to focus on the task at hand.

• A large majority (66 per cent) of parents claimed their children spent way too much time on screens during lockdown, which they fear will continue to impact their cognition back at school.

• Meanwhile, 96 per cent of parents have tried different strategies to help their children reduce screen-time including time limits, digital detoxes and tactile activities.

When it comes to helping your children gear their brain back into “learning mode” this back-to-school season, Ms Brandner gave five tips to best support children on their return.

Bring back the routine

“We are all guilty of allowing holidays to weaken some of our household rules, in particular, later bedtimes, less monitoring, and increased device time. However, now is the perfect time to get your children back into some form of everyday routine,” she said.

“Whether that means reinstating bedtimes and wake times, limiting screen time, or scheduling their meals to align with lunch/recess times, all these little routine changes will make a big impact and help your children get back into the right physical and mental mindset for school.”

Start with their nutrition

A healthy and balanced diet that provides children with the nutrition they need is essential to support them they as they go back to school. Studies frequently demonstrate that diet is tied closely to classroom function, so ensure that your child is getting the right balance of food groups that will help them perform at optimal levels in the classroom.

As well as the necessary vitamins and minerals, ensure your child is getting the right ratio of omega oils. These essential fatty acids, which include omega-3 and omega-6, support healthy brain function and learning development.

Set some New Year’s goals

“There’s no reason you can’t get your children involved in this as well. Work with them to create a list of what they would want to achieve in 2022,” said Ms Brandner.

“As a family, work together to write these down. Have them positioned in a central place where they can be revisited and rewarded for. By setting goals, you are putting them into a ‘do’ mindset before school even starts.”

Bring the ‘Band Back Together’ again

“Social anxiety and fears impact children significantly and result in heightened emotions. As such, distraction, poor focus, and concentration can see children struggle cognitively in the classroom,” said Ms Brandner.

“After a long summer break, going back to school and seeing classmates for the first time can really heighten many children’s apprehension and anxiety. So, a great way as a parent to reduce these ‘first day fears’ is to get the band back together and organise play dates with your child and their friends before school goes back.

“Sharing a school-related task, like choosing lunch boxes or stationery with friends can help children feel more comfortable about beginning the new school year.”

Reward effort and achievement

“Even for children that love school, going back after a long break can feel overwhelming,” said Ms Brandner. “A great way parents can help set them up before the school year commences is to implement a rewards system that aligns with your child’s interests and tether them to goals.

“It is important that parents acknowledge the challenges that need to be navigated in the first weeks. For some children this may mean getting tasks completed on time but for others it may be achieving results in reading or spelling.

“As parents we need to encourage and allow children to reach for their potential by supporting the ‘you can do it’ approach.”

If you are noticing signs that your child is struggling cognitively in the classroom for extended periods of time, it is paramount that you seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional such as a GP or pharmacist.

Originally published as ‘Warning signs’ of long-term lockdown issues in Australian children, as study reveals worrying trends