Pandemic babies are raising developmental concerns. 

Pandemic babies are raising developmental concerns. All of Millennial parents’ Gen Alpha kids have been born into a pandemic-struck world, and a study conducted on pregnant Canadians aimed at understanding how pandemic stressors may have affected child development found that rates of anxiety and depression among pregnant individuals were significantly higher during the early phase of the pandemic compared to previous studies. However, the majority of children born during the pandemic were still meeting their key developmental milestones, providing reassurance to parents and caregivers. Nonetheless, a slightly higher proportion of children born during the pandemic were at risk of developmental delays in communication, gross motor skills, and personal-social domains. These effects, though relatively small, could potentially lead to increased service demands for preschool children in Canada, which makes it apparent to scientists that it’s crucial to continue monitoring the long-lasting effects of the pandemic on child development and provide early interventions with both educators and Millennial parents for children who are struggling. (The Conversation)