Miscellaneous
While Covid-19 is typically benign in children, the pandemic could have long lasting impacts for society's youngest members. With childcare programs closed and social distancing measures in place, many children are missing out on critical developmental opportunities. "Children are not getting the cognitive and social stimulation that they would normally get outside their home," said Dr. Michelle Aguilar, the head of pediatrics at Venice Family Clinic in Los Angeles, California. Providers have noted delays in speech and language as well as issues with sharing. But for children, the pandemic's effects could go beyond delays in social skills. With many parents undergoing financial stress, children are facing higher rates of housing and food insecurity while others are subject to rising rates of neglect and household dysfunction--all of which can affect a child's trajectory into adulthood. On this episode of the podcast, we explore the full scope of consequences for children growing up in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, from short term effects to long term implications. We speak with experts in the field as well as Venice Family Clinic's Dr. Michelle Aguilar and early head start director, Stacey Scarborough.