Toddlers growing up during covid - the forgotten bunch

[Hitchyhero]

I'm just depressed and want to vent. I feel like nothing is being done with this generation of kids and it's all about saving the elderly.

My child is adopted and he didn't have the best start in life. He came to us when he was just over 1 years old in July 2019. Then in early 2020 we went into lockdown the week before his bday. 1 year later.... At 3 years old.... He still hasn't had a birthday with his wider family.

He has speech delay (which is common among adopted children) but I don't think mask wearing, and lack of social interaction with others has helped. He's only actually interacted with my family for 6 months because of covid. Hes hardly intereracted with children his age. I can't get appotments with speech therapists because of covid too. We video call with my family but he's not interested in videocalls for that long. He just has no connection. Feel like this generation of kids are going to have massive repercussions. Whilst I know older kids education is not great atm, these early years are massivly important and these kids are not goingnto have even basic life skills.

@Wherediditgo

If it's any consolation I took my first DD to every baby group, NCT meetup and coffee shop. She still cried everytime I left the room. She screamed at my MIL til she was 18 months. She couldn't be held by anyone else. I tried everything. Some kids are just nervous. She is 2.5 now and still pretty socially anxious, but its just who she is. Not all kids and social butterflies. It's taken me a long time to accept it has nothing to do with me. I felt like a failure for a long time The longer I am a mum, the more I realise that there is a lot you can’t control. How they sleep, if they’re a fussy eater, how long potty training takes etc. You can’t take the blame for things that aren’t perfect any more than you can take credit for the things that are (within reason of course)

Agree with every single bit of this. I went to more baby groups than anyone I know and my DS, who is now 3, was terrible for separation anxiety. He’s still not great. So much is down to individual personality.

Yes it is really hard with toddlers I was just looking at old photos of my kids on the playground on climbing frames and whatnot. They're losing so much in their physical development....

Regarding the speech delay, I just answered on a thread (something on a 3 year old speaking like shakespear) about the techniques I learned from my DC's therapist.

OP I whole heartedly agree. My DS in juniors is doing fine, he's taken well to home learning and spends plenty of time online with his friends outside of school hours.

I have another child who is the same age as yours, almost three, and his social skills are miles behind where his brothers were at this age. I'm nervous about him starting nursery in September, I really don't know how he'll manage.

@grey12

Yes it is really hard with toddlers I was just looking at old photos of my kids on the playground on climbing frames and whatnot. They're losing so much in their physical development....

Regarding the speech delay, I just answered on a thread (something on a 3 year old speaking like shakespear) about the techniques I learned from my DC's therapist.

You an still go to playgrounds.

I don't think toddlers have been "forgotten " exactly. Everyone's in the same boat. What do you suggest should be happening?

@Frogartist Playgrounds are all shut where I am. Soft play, playgroups, swimming all cancelled for a year in March. My Dd has no siblings, it’s me and her inside or the local patch of grass for 13 hours per day with no other people or children.
What do ‘You’ suggest can be done to help these poor kids? Do you have children?

I don't think toddlers have been "forgotten " exactly. Everyone's in the same boat. What do you suggest should be happening?

Toddlers and working parents have literally been forgotten several times here (NI). When plans were being announced to open things back up last summer childcare wasn't even mentioned, repeatedly. First time I've ever contacted an MLA. Now there's no guidance for baby classes, toddler groups etc so providers are having to try interpret the rules for other types of activities to figure out what's allowed.

There seems to be little evidence that children playing together outdoors is a high risk activity, so removing the requirement for small children to social distance would be helpful.

Even if things aren't possible it would be nice if that were explained.

Again, I'm not saying toddlers are the only group hard hit or the only group who could do with more consideration, not at all. It's hard for everyone and I do think restrictions are necessary.

I am forever grateful that nursery is still open for us, but that's not an option for everyone.

@Frogartist playgrounds are open but I don't want my family catching covid.

DH already has to go to work but what can be avoided should be avoided. I was pregnant best part of 2020 and now there is a small baby in the house. It would be a disaster anyone getting sick!!

It is shit OP. My daughter is 3.5 and other than 3 months in the autumn she's been out of nursery for a year - I was pregnant in the first wave, and now our local area has incredibly high rates in the post Christmas and my husband is high risk. He will get a group 6 vaxx so I'm keeping her out til then. I also have a 3 month old. I'm bloody exhausted and I'm worried that my older one will have forgotten how to play properly with other children. And she's off to school in September too!

[quote grey12]@Frogartist playgrounds are open but I don't want my family catching covid.

DH already has to go to work but what can be avoided should be avoided. I was pregnant best part of 2020 and now there is a small baby in the house. It would be a disaster anyone getting sick!![/quote]
Of course, but I can't see whay the governmenr can do.

[quote SickoftheCword]@Frogartist Playgrounds are all shut where I am. Soft play, playgroups, swimming all cancelled for a year in March. My Dd has no siblings, it’s me and her inside or the local patch of grass for 13 hours per day with no other people or children.
What do ‘You’ suggest can be done to help these poor kids? Do you have children?[/quote]
I have no suggestions! Just replying to the post. I only know the rules where I live and can't know the rules where everyone else lives.
Yes I have four children.

@Frogartist the government can do little about toddlers specifically....

I do find that there has been a bad response regarding the hospitals. They need more support from the government. In other countries they brought the military personnel to help out with covid patients. That would free up doctors and professionals of other specialties to help people with other problems besides covid. DH was discharged early from physio after surgery and had to go private. OP is finding it difficult to access other services.

@hauntedvagina my youngest is 3 in March so probably similar to yours, he's coping at nursery but he's miles behind as well, I'm getting a bit worried

www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-55936928

Good article on impact on younger children. Positive messages from experts.

I would think “within 12 months of adoption” should allow a support bubble, much as a baby under 12 months does.