to worry about the effect might have on toddlers?

[TinyStripe]

Not complaining. Happy to lock down. I'm sticking to it, stringently. Going slightly insane with my 17 month old at home but that's life. I do worry slightly if this does go on like this for 6 months plus as they suggested it might on the news, that mine and other toddlers may miss out hugely on experiences that really shape them (for example, interacting with other children, socialising, seeing family regularly, visiting different places from beaches, parks to events etc). AIBU to be slightly concerned about this? Am I jumping the gun a bit? Maybe I'm just used to being out every day with him. Guess it's just a niggling worry I have...

Your child will be fine. I do worry about vulnerable children though.

@icorona I do too. My mum works in social work with vulnerable kids. Listening to her talk about her concerns is terrifying. Things I might never have even thought to be concerned with. Scary times.

The great thing is, your under 5 only really needs the undivided attention of their prime attachments, siblings as a bonus, and many will probably thrive on more time at parents knee as such.

Jenny Harries was clear that she didn't imply that lockdown would last for 6 months, she meant that social distancing etc would likely be in place, that we wouldn't be back to normality.

He may not be encouraged to share too much space or saliva with other toddlers anytime soon, but you will likely be able to take him out to places, to see family even if you don't have physical contact, etc. Hopefully.

YANBU to worry but children are VERY resilient and adaptable. In the long term there will be no adverse consequences. In fact you may look back fondly on these weeks.

Yes very much jumping the gun. Up to age of 3 social interaction not necessary and really they don't start to play properly with others until closer to 4. On the other hand all the 5/6/7+ year old who know what is going on, understand it, hate the fact they can't see their friends and are getting scared about people dying from the virus as well as missing most of a school year, yes I'd be more concerned about them, like I am for mine. At 17 months they'll remember nothing of this. Yes it's a bad time, yes an active toddler is a nightmare to look after in lock down but your situation could be a lot worse

I would think toddlers will be fine. As long as you’re playing with them, they will be fine. Older children will cope too, but I agree with the others vulnerable children during this time.

17 month old will be fine. they dont socialise with others at that age anyway, just play near them. I think older children (maybe 4+) will be affected more

@scrapthatthen I agree. He's my only child and I'm a single parent. Dad not on the scene and at home just me and him. Also trying to work from home which is impossible. Think I'm just worrying too much.

I was thinking that. My 3 year old (literally just turned 3) is behaving differently. He seems so fed up and bored. He isn't fully verbal yet, slight speech delay but he was doing so well at nursery.

I have lost my support network and he misses his grandparents. He keeps asking if people are poorly so he has some idea of what's going on.

I can't help but think he will be a different hold by the end of this.

Different child by the end of this even!

@tiredtrumpet my son is also acting very differently but I think it's because I always have the chance to go out and wear him out every day. I live in a small 2 bed flat with no garden and nowhere green to walk.

I worry about reintroducing DD to 'normality' again. She has always been a fairly clingy high needs baby and it took a lot of work over about 6 months to get her comfortable with being left. Even then she struggled for the first few months and I ended up reducing my work days. She's finally settled into a lovely nursery and although I had issues with PIL care, things with my parents had progressed well enough that she had done 2 overnights and talked fondly of nana and grandad's. I worry all that will be undone with several months of just me and DH. I also feel guilty as hell because her walking and communication have come on leaps just in the past 2 weeks so maybe it's better for her to be home and I'm just being selfish not having that support network or going out to work.

Pre-schoolers maybe but not toddlers. They really just need primary caregiver and interaction, they don't really need 'socialising' the way older children do. In fact my DD is 14mo and I was saying to DH that I'm grateful she's that age as it's made basically no difference to her life and she won't remember it!

I do worry for my own sanity also 😅

It is difficult with no garden though. We've been using ours a lot the last week, way more than we would normally.

@deslynamsmoustache it's unbearable at the moment! I take him out in the pram and tried using reigns but he just tries to pick everything up on the ground and screams when he can't walk on the road.

My dd who is 2.3 behaviour has deteriorated a lot. I’m trying to work from home whilst looking after her. She’s used to lots of nursery, seeing grandparents and other relatives a lot. Her whole routine has changed completely in a week. We are an active family so she is used to going swimming, going to beach, and the countryside regularity. Now she sees no one apart from mummy and daddy and stays indoors apart from our tiny back garden.

I would definitely worry about your own sanity much more than his! He'll be fine, enjoying the bonus time with his mum.

@dahlietta I'm definitely worried. Only just feeling 90% recovered from PND.

Toddlers will be fine
They won’t even remember this time

TinyStripe it’s understandable you’re worried. It’s tough if it’s just the two of you and you can’t get out. You will find a way to get through it though

I very much doubt toddlers will remember any of this.
I talk to my dds about things we did when they were older than toddler years and they don’t remember.

Tbh I think it’s actually great for toddlers - lots of time with their favourite people. Too young to understand the worrying side or miss their friends, and they won’t remember it. My son is almost 2 and is absolutely loving having his dad and me around all day (though we are finding it exhausting!)

I think it is difficult whatever age they are. I have 3 young adults in the house, all between 18 -21 that whilst they totally understand it are literally climbing the walls as they are so used to their freedom.