The idea of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging for everyone. For children and teens, this time can be incredibly daunting. As kids grow, they begin to strike out on their own and form social networks. This action is critical for social, physical, and mental health. At-home learning, staggered in-school learning, limited sports schedules and activities, and other social distancing protocols have caused a significant disruption in this crucial phase of their lives.
This article looks at why socialization is crucial for child development and the ramifications of limited interaction. We also offer tips from experts and research on how parents, guardians, and caregivers can help children and teens socially develop, boost their mental health, and blossom during COVID-19.
Socializing: Why it is Essential for Children and Teens
According to the National Institutes of Health, peer acceptance becomes crucial during a child’s middle school years (NIH). However, social connections are particularly vital during the high school years. Why? In a recent Healthline article, Amy Learmonth, Ph.D., a developmental psychologist who runs the Cognition, Memory, and Development Lab at William Paterson University, states, “In adolescence, friendships become more complex and more about shared interests. During this time, they learn how to find and provide support to their friends, establish boundaries, and develop trust skills. Socializing helps kids find out who they are” (Campbell, L., 2020).
These connections are also vital to a child’s mental and physical health. One study found that youth who felt more connected to their school reported lower levels of depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, social anxiety, and sexual activity. They also reported higher self-esteem levels (Foster, C.E. et al., 2017). Another study found that socially active teens are healthier than their loner peers in critical areas such as weight, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels (Yang, C.Y. et al., 2016). According to the authors in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal, interacting with peers is also vital for brain development. Cognitive abilities such as self-referential processing and executive control improve during socialization, enabling young people to understand other people’s thoughts and perspectives (Orben, A. et al., 2020).
Social distancing for a short time can interrupt these developmental milestones, but most experts agree that it will not cause permanent consequences. What is becoming more worrisome, however, is the long-term impact of this new normal.
How Long Periods of Isolation Affect Social Development
What will be the long-term ramifications of social distancing on children and teens? Being isolated at home for months can be a very different experience for kids of various ages, interests, needs, and personalities. Stephanie Jones, a developmental psychologist at Harvard, explains in a recent Atlantic article, “Some children who dealt with bullying or social anxiety before the pandemic might have found social distancing a relief. Not everyone wanted to go to prom” (Denworth, L., 2020). However, others with mental health issues or a challenging home environment are more likely to suffer from a lack of social interaction.
In some kids, the loneliness brought on by social distancing may turn into mental and behavioral health problems. Joshua Andrus, a 20-year behavioral addiction specialist, told Endominance, “This pandemic is causing a rise in behavioral addictions, namely media addiction. COVID-19 has increased media addiction because it has given a permissive amount of access to it. It’s now a means to education and communication as well as entertainment.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a pandemic is more likely to heighten mental health issues in teens, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts (CDC, 2020). How can someone tell if social distancing is affecting a child or teen? Elizabeth Schwarz, a child psychiatrist, offers, “The time to worry is when kids display extremes in behavior, such as sleeping all the time or not at all, increased irritability, and weight changes” (Denworth, L., 2020).
How Can We Help Our Kids?
While many parents can homeschool their children and teens in subjects like math or English, teaching socialization skills outside the home is far more complicated. Below are some tips from leading experts about how parents and caregivers can help their kids socially develop, boost mental and physical health, and stay connected during COVID-19.
Get kids moving. The CDC urges parents to teach kids the importance of taking care of their health. Encouraging them to eat healthily, drink water, and be active is a great start. Exercise can play a crucial role in keeping kids physically healthy and mentally fit during the pandemic – and it’s fun. This is especially important in kids with mental health disorders, such as ADHD. According to John J. Ratey MD, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of the book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, “Exercise tempers ADHD by increasing the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. With regular exercise, we can raise these baseline levels by spurring the growth of new receptors in certain brain areas. And the more complex the exercise, such as martial arts or gymnastics, the better” (Ratey, 2008).
Ensure continuity in socialization and self-care. Encourage adolescents to reach out to friends and family via phone, text, video chats, social media, or even via video games. However, keeping a balance in this area is vital. For example, every hour a child does some form of exercise can be an hour playing a favorite video game. Self-care is also essential. Encourage kids to take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Have them do the activities they enjoy, like music, sports, or other hobbies.
Keep to a schedule. According to Tamar Mendelson, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Adolescent Health, “Helping adolescents develop a consistent schedule is important for maintaining a sense of normalcy. It should include time to get homework done, connect with friends, and get outside of the house, even if it’s for a short amount of time. A routine should help young people to feel grounded and reduce stress” (Volkin, S., 2020).
References:
Campbell, L. (2020, April 3). How COVID-19 Could Affect Kids’ Long-Term Social Development. Healthline. Retrieved October, 2020 from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/social-distancing-effects-on-social-development.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit – Adolescence. (August, 2020). Retrieved October, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/parental-resource-kit/adolescence.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Support for Teen and Young Adults. (July, 2020). Retrieved October, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/stress-coping/young-adults.html
Denworth, L. (2020, June 24). What Happens When Kids Don’t See Their Peers for Months. The Atlantic. Retrieved October, 2020 from https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2020/06/how-quarantine-will-affect-kids-social-development/613381/
Foster, C. E. et al. (2017). Connectedness to family, school, peers, and community in socially vulnerable adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review. 81, 321–331. Doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.08.011
National Institutes of Health (NIH). School-age children development. Medline Plus. Retrieved October, 2020 from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002017.htm .
Orben, A. et al. (2020). The effects of social deprivation on adolescent development and mental health. The Lancet: Children and Adolescent Health. (4)8, 634-640. Doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30186-3.
Ratey, J. J. (2008). Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. Little, Brown, and Company.
Volkin, S. (2020, May 11). The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Adolescents. Johns Hopkins University HUB. Retrieved October, 2020 from https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/05/11/covid-19-and-adolescents/
Yang, C.Y. et al. (2016). Social relationships and physiological functioning determinants of longevity across the human life span. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 201511085; Doi: 10.1073/pnas.1511085112.