2/8 Discussion Board

School is much more than just a place to learn for children.

The rigid structure and caring environment helps them to develop routines and build skills that they will use later in life. When schools closed because of COVID, many kids were thrust into an environment lacking this structure, leading to increased anxiety, stress, and in some cases, exacerbation of pre-existing mental health conditions. This lack of stability, contributed significantly to the rise in mental health issues we see in children. The more important disruption however, is the social disruption that it caused, as kids struggled to develop social skills, and often times, found themselves isolated and alone. This happening during such formative years could have profound long lasting impact on their ability to socialize or develop emotional intelligence in the future.

In the event that another global pandemic happens, several important things could be targeted:

1. Develop & Promote online support systems like therapy or chat rooms where children can communicate safely

2. Enhance parents ability to support, through education so that any damage to social skills

3. When the pandemic is over, it would be important to prepare for students to reintegrate so that any damage to social skills or emotional intelligence can be somewhat accounted for when the children return