PANDEMIC BORN BABIES ARE OFF TO SCHOOL

1. Build a Safe, Predictable Environment

Establish consistent routines for arrival, activities, meals, and transitions.

Use visual schedules and gentle reminders so children feel secure.

Offer extra time to adjust to new spaces and people.

2. Support Social and Emotional Development

Children born during the pandemic may have:

Less exposure to group play

Higher separation anxiety

Difficulty understanding facial expressions (due to masked adults earlier in life)

Strategies:

Start with small-group interactions to build comfort.

Model simple social skills: sharing, turn-taking, asking for help.

Use emotion cards or pictures to teach feelings.

Provide a calm, patient response to anxiety or clinginess.

3. Strengthen Communication and Language

Some pandemic-born children may have:

Fewer opportunities for conversation

Delays in expressive or receptive language

Strategies:

Speak slowly, clearly, and narrate your actions (“Now we are cleaning up the blocks”).

Encourage conversation through play.

Read aloud daily — ask questions, name objects, repeat important words.

Provide gestures, songs, rhymes, and visual supports.Avoid correcting speech harshly—model the correct form instead.

4. Encourage Motor Skills Development

Limited outdoor play during lockdowns may have affected motor development.

Strategies:

Integrate movement breaks (jumping, stretching, dancing).

Provide activities for fine motor skills (playdough, beads, crayons).

Organize safe indoor/outdoor gross motor play (running, balancing, climbing).

5. Use Gentle Behavioral Guidance

Children may struggle with self-regulation.

Strategies:

Use positive reinforcement instead of punishment.

Teach routine use of “calm corners” or breathing exercises.

Break tasks into small steps; provide support and praise effort.

Expect slower adaptation and avoid labeling behaviors as “bad.”

6. Strengthen Home–School Communication

Parents of pandemic-born children may also feel anxious about separation or the child’s progress.

Strategies:

Provide regular updates (short notes, photos, or verbal check-ins).

Offer simple activities families can do at home to support development.

Encourage an open-door policy for concerns or questions.

Avoid judgment about missed milestones — offer resources instead.

7. Watch for Developmental Delays Compassionately

Some children may benefit from early intervention.

Teachers should observe for:

Limited language or nonverbal communication

Poor eye contact or social engagement

Delayed motor skills

Difficulty with sensory input (noise, touch, crowds)

If concerns arise:

Document observations.

Share them gently with caregivers.

Suggest consulting a professional without alarming families.

8. Promote Play-Based Learning

Children born during the pandemic often need more play to build the foundations of learning.

Strategies:

Provide open-ended play materials (blocks, dolls, puzzles).

Encourage imaginative play to improve social, emotional, and cognitive skills.

Keep activities hands-on and interactive.

9. Foster Emotional Resilience

Teach simple coping skills (deep breaths, counting, asking for help).

Use stories to talk about feelings and changes.

Celebrate small successes to build confidence.

10. Be Patient, Empathetic, and Flexible

Most importantly:

Avoid comparing children to pre-pandemic expectations.

Understand that developmental variation is normal.Offer reassurance, warmth, and acceptance.

By

Mrs. SujataThakur