Kids still feeling the effects of lockdowns…

[sloanedanger]

I just got caught reading a really interesting thread on Twitter started by a teacher:

“Is anyone else thinking we are starting to see the impact of 2 years of disruption and time at home, due to COVID 19, in schools? Extreme behaviours? Some pupils very emotional and struggling to regulate? Low attendance compared to normal? Winter bugs hitting hard?”

A lot of the comments say Y3 is the worst, others saying Years 7 and 8.

My DS is in Year 2 and often struggles with emotions and self regulation at school. It’s made me think, perhaps there’s a reason why linked to the pandemic. Lockdown was hard, DP and I were home with very young DC, trying to work, poor mental health, emotions high. Very little patience.

There is a lot of evidence n the impact of lockdown.

It affected my 14yr old daughter a lot mentally. It will leave its mark (literally for her) for many years

My child is in y2 (the covid reception year). We adhered strictly to regulations which meant my child was home schooled for nearly all of the lockdown. He has absolutely struggled both during lockdown and subsequently. I also look at children around me, anyone who was on the cusp of a change has struggled. I see the same in my 6 year old as a friends 11 year old or another’s now 19 year old. This has been an extremely trying time and yes we are seeing the consequences.

Yes and I think amongst adults too

we coped and lived it but I remember that feeling is December 2020 of going into lockdown and I have never felt like that - I cry even thinking about it and I just thought I can’t do it again

but we did

the long term implications on everything - more expensive than a war. The inflation and tax we will pay for years.

covid babies not going out
covid youngsters running away from people and thinking they were going to die
teenagers not socialising as they might be arrested for breaking Covid rules and the impact on education is huge

Our internal truancy numbers are sky high and the number of Y11's refusing to do their mocks is ridiculous, and those needing specialist support to do it like smaller classrooms, sitting behind boards etc.

Our school are finding the current year 3s the worst affected by far. Its quite evident from the extent of the behavioural problems. My DD is in this year, she has additional needs anyway but losing much of reception and year 1 was beyond devastating and far worsened her additional needs. Seems to be similar with a few lads in her year

I genuinely hadn’t thought about how it would impact my DC today, how naive of me. In the second lockdown, my DS had just turned 5, had done the autumn term in reception after months at home, and then was told he was staying at home again. His little brother was able to go to nursery so it was just my poor DS at home 24/7 with DP and I trying to work, for another 3 months. He was so angry and unhappy at the time, we were strict about it with him and I now feel guilty, but it was so difficult, for us, we just couldn’t cope. I don’t feel like he’s matured all that much emotionally since then, he still seems to have very little resilience - hates to lose at games, gets his back up with peers and siblings, gets annoyed at school if his group is doing the “boring” activity while the other group is doing the more appealing one.

My DD was and is very affected. I honestly believe the trauma of life as she knew it being turned upside down when she was nine did something chemical in her brain.

She's still struggling now with anxiety, with school, self harming, etc. And it all started in April 2020.

The shredding of all routine seems to have had most long lasting effect in our household. It took soooo long to remotivate for work and school, we only really became fully motivated and up to speed again a couple of months ago!!

I’m so sorry to hear that @CanYouFeelMyHeart

with my 9yo, every now and then we find a "hole" in her Maths work that she should have done in Yr2 or Yr3, but never did.

I work with 8-10yos, and their maturity is all mixed up. The younger ones sometimes seem more advanced than the older ones in some ways.

Yep.
I see it everywhere. Kids, adults, organisations, society as a whole.

Was just discussing with a friend today about whether the trouble they have with current reception year is a covid developmental hangover.

And watching my yr13 and his mates: building up for their first ever public exams, with University applications riding on it.

If you look at the societal changes that the two world wars brought, you have to expect that this would also have an effect.

My DD was 9 when we went into lockdown. I had a fairly well balanced and happy child. She didn't cope with lockdown which resulted in a CAMHS referral. Things improved when she started High School and there wasn't the fear of school closing again. We're spiralling again though with self harming, disordered eating and every little thing being a massive drama for her. I think the mixture of lockdown and hormones has played complete havoc on her age group. Awaiting further counselling appointments.

For sure. Lots of issues with young adults going to uni this year and not coping.

Lots of Yr 9 running amock here. But lots of social media use and online bullying/tic toc/etc don't help at all

Teen DD has always been sensitive to noise, wont even set foot in a supermarket, bowling alley, cinema or McDonalds now as "its too loud" whereas she would before lockdown. Im pretty sure this has been exacerbated by lockdown as its just the two of us and our house was very quiet and peaceful over lockdown but I think thats made her even more sensitive.

Teaching at Secondary school the children just seem very young and immature, the year 7 and 8 are very Primary school still whereas they would have normally matured a bit by now. Their behaviour is shocking too and many dont care about consequences or detentions.

My now 15 year old turned into a different person during lock down. Some of it was puberty but the effects of that whilst shut in have been awful. The last year especially has been a nightmare-over reliance in friendship groups, extreme reactions to friends falling out, risky behaviour to try and fit in which ended in a terrible way with her being assaulted, subsequent mental health issues, suicide attempts, now dabbling with weed. It never ends. She might have done all those things anyway but I don't think it would have been so extreme.

By contrast Dd1 who is now 16 sailed through it. So it isn't the same for everyone. But where it was bad for some
It seems
To have hit hard .

My youngest who started P1 the August before the lockdown went from a bright and happy wee thing who was always excited for Mondays to a complete school refuser. When she's there she has to be in a special group or else she flits between tears and outbursts to hyperactive and distracted. I'm at my wits end.

I really don't know wether to keep living in fear of the Education Officer chapping my door and being taken to court for her horrendous attendance or pull her out and homeschool her which (in the current Cost of GREED crisis where I can't afford to actually DO anything with her because I have to WFH as many hours as possible) might be worse.

I honestly wish I could go live in the woods with my kids and not bother with any of it to be honest, but if anyone has any advice on WTF to actually do I'd be grateful.

Absolutely.

In Early Years too (would have been 1/2 in the first lockdown) I feel like it’s absolutely had a huge effect. So many more children than usual needing interventions with speech and language, behaviour, social interactions… it’s really sad.

I have a year 3. He has had some immature outbursts but he seems OK. He only had one summer lockdown and was in keyworker school for the January lockdown. He is surprisingly self sufficient and is happy in his own company. I do wonder if that is a personality trait or as a result of covid

I've never understood why the UK cancelled exams. We're non UK and my eldest did her GCSE equivalent exams during lockdown - her year were in school in shifts (half classes) and everyone else (including my younger two) homeschooling. The exams ran "as normal" but in multiple rooms to allow more space between desks, and with masks if they had to leave their desks for any reason (toilet).

My kid is year 3 - first lockdown was while he was in reception??

This is (fingers crossed) his first school year unaffected by covid. His friends who go to the local infants went through the whole school with covid around. DS is in a primary so luckily that’s a little bit of stability for him!

I work in year 1 and yes, it has definitely affected those children. They really struggle to sit still and concentrate, they can't play or work together at all and many are well behind where they should be (and they didn't even miss any actual schooling, just some nursery)

This is a sad thread. Just to say there’s a public consultation atm if people want to record their feelings.

I did re schools. Here’s the link if anyone wants to share their experience

covid19.public-inquiry.uk/share-your-experience/

My DS who missed A levels, Uni lockdowns is hugely impacted.

he’s now on placement & instead of an exciting time in London is in his bedroom on teams all day.

hes struggling