Due to the unpredictable opening and closure of schools and child care facilities, children affected by the previous few COVID-19 waves have had to repeatedly return to learning at home for extended periods of time, particularly in early childhood.
Early childhood education must, nevertheless, endure and advance constantly. Accordingly, a child and adolescent psychologist “Neet” Benjarat Jongjamratphan believes that early childhood children find it challenging to adjust to new lifestyles and approaches to learning.
In order to educate them to be able to handle the situation effectively, it is necessary to consider the numerous limits that have increased as a result of the COVID-19 issue.
Since cerebral regression is inappropriate given their age and could lead to a more emotional condition in addition to other physical, emotional, and social developments, it is essential to provide them with management support.
Regression in the development of young children due to the closing of schools and daycare facilities
With the arrival of COVID-19, many things changed. One was confined by regulations, or forced to learn a new, more limited version of who you are.
It is not just adults that need to adjust to the new situation—children do too!
While it may not be pleasant for some youngsters to wear masks, they are required to wear them whenever they leave the house and wash their hands thoroughly. What makes their life challenging are these rules. Since they do not yet have the immunity to handle more constrained circumstances, this is especially true for young children or those in the early years of life.
“The early childhood or kindergarten years are when discipline training takes place. Children who get fundamental punishment teaching may already become irate. It’s only that because of the COVID situation, they have to live with additional regulations or limits. It could make individuals more prone to becoming enraged.
‘Neet’ Benjarat Jongjamratphan,
“Neet” discussed how early punishment training can have unintended emotional effects on children and how the COVID-19 pandemic has forced them to live under additional limitations, including the parenting style. Excessive strictness can have a negative effect on a child’s behavior and emotional state.
According to Erikson’s theory, young children will have a sense of autonomy and start to gain self-control during the psychosocial development stage of early childhood. Along with developing their creative thoughts, they may also begin to develop a conscience and personality as a result of their interactions with the environment. Children that receive training from their parents or other family adults will be better able to show their morality and conscience in their behavior. If parents give their children proper nurture, this can occur. Children will feel proud of what they have accomplished. Overly controlling behavior from your stepparent can cause him to feel guilty and hinder the development of your personality and emotions.
Second, we want to avoid the perception that learning is limited to what is found in textbooks when we discuss it. In actuality, learning occurs through the environment for youngsters. However, a lot of activities stopped when COVID-19 arrived. In their early years, children must learn through their five senses from the surrounding natural environment, via practice, and through a desire to view things as they genuinely are. Children’s ability to learn and grow physically will be hindered since they are confined to a small space, unable to play freely, and prohibited to venture outside.
Third, youngsters at this age will require to acknowledge society as their new environment. It’s crucial to familiarize oneself with a new community in addition to oneself or one’s family. Their inability to communicate socially may be due to a lack of friends or education. If they have friends, for instance, they will know how to play by the rules, connect well with others, and approach groups of people. Playing with friends and engaging in social behaviors like waiting or offering assistance teach us this system and make the different social norms and standards more apparent.
Restrictive environments cause stress, which has a direct correlation to behavior, development, and mood.
Children that exhibit atypical behaviors and feelings, including not desiring food or being hungrier than usual, are often expressing stress, pressure from a different lifestyle, and limits in many areas of their lives. An inadequate diet causes the child’s muscle growth to stop short of what it should.
Even with regard to sleeping patterns, stress and boredom have a negative impact on children. They will sleep less, have trouble falling asleep, wake up in the middle of the night, and experience nightmares. Some people may even wish to sleep more or experience physical ailments like headaches and stomachaches.
Children that experience stress will exhibit elevated emotional states, including increased sadness, heightened weeping, fear, rage, and impatience. Parents can see and understand that their child is under stress and that it’s not enjoyable because of these symptoms. Parents who can strengthen their immunity will be better able to stabilize their emotions and restore equilibrium.
In what limited circumstances can parents help their young children cope emotionally?
You need parents to help guide you if you are an early childhood child. Early childhood education must be assisted by parents in order for young children to develop emotionally, which in turn affects other areas of development. For example, what can we do if they are bored, too sleepy to study, or study and get a headache? Every child must learn that this phenomenon is called stress and how we may solve it. This may not come naturally to young children and is something that needs constant teaching. For instance, we can play with toys or listen to music to relieve the stress imposed on by studying.
“If ten solutions exist, ten must be identified and implemented. Kids won’t be able to solve ten situations by themselves just because they’ve been taught 10. Kids will start to repeat and comprehend things gradually. Children can self-regulate when they experience stress once more.”
“Neet” Benjarat Jongjamratphan
Because young children’s cognitive abilities still do not let them to think carefully and coherently, “Neet” Benjarat Jongjamratphan further clarified. Through perception, they also comprehend issues. So, in the event that they run into something similar, this is how they should handle the situation. The problem has only been partially solved by this.
It is crucial to involve parents in the instructional design process to support the development of young children.
Learning in children is still possible. Basically put, learning doesn’t happen as much at home. Development may result from this, not fitting the suitable age. The organization of the teaching or learning process by parents is another factor that may contribute to a child’s ability to learn and develop in a suitable manner, in addition to the environment.
When parents raise their kids full-time, they have the ability to plan educational activities and provide constant attention, which ensures that learning never stops for the kids. However, parents with special needs who have to leave the house for work ought to have extra gear. It could come in the shape of an independent toy box or a series of educational boxes. In the spare time that follows, parents instruct their kids on how to develop their play. From here, we begin our journey. An orange jigsaw puzzle, for instance, is contained within the box. Kids will take some time to learn via play. When parents are free to spend time together, help them grow by posing the following question: What is this called?
The child may be asked to pick up an orange from around the house as the following step, which could introduce more issues. Parents allow their children to learn how to peel and eat by touching and studying the taste and qualities. Parents are required to engage in role-playing activities, like playing and selling stuff, at one point. Parents see their kids as vendors and themselves as consumers. It might have anything to do with the surrounding environment. For instance, parents could gather leaves across the house and allow the kids to color them. It will increase the enjoyment of kids’ play.
Parental choice or design influences not only learning development but also physical, emotional, and social development. For example, the example teaching activities mentioned above. Engaging in role-playing games with their kids enhances communication skills and fosters interaction. As for parents letting their kids go around and gather actual oranges in the house or around the house, peel them, and eat them—letting kids move around will assist boost their physical development and improve their mood when they’re having fun. However, it’s crucial that parents avoid trying to expedite this process and having high expectations for its outcome. Their learning happens gradually, and as a result, these procedures will contribute to their development.
