Shy and anxious children who constantly stay close to their parents. It is an effect of the corona pandemic. Preschool staff experience that it is more complex to educate young children now than before the pandemic.
Psychologist Elia Psouni, together with doctoral student Martina Andersson Søe, has investigated how the rules on social distancing have affected the relationship between preschool staff, parents and children.
The so-called “pandemic children” interpreted the physical distance between the parents and the preschool staff as a relational distance, according to the study.
– It seemed that the children thought “do not mom and dad trust this person?” It should not be understood that they have lost the ability to be safe outside the home, but that it takes a little more time, says Martina Andersson Søe.
Many young children, who have otherwise been able to go to open preschool and have a babysitter, have not been away from their parents nor seen their parents interact with others.
– At this age, children learn a lot from observing and when they have not observed their parents be cordial, friendly and trust others, they do not know what this looks like, says Elia Psouni.
Parents more insecure
At the Blomstermåla preschool in Bromma in Stockholm, all induction during the pandemic took place outdoors. Some days they were forced to close completely due to illness.
– It was difficult to find peace in the group of children because there were a lot of changes all the time, says preschool teacher Eva Lindström.
She still thinks that the children have done well.
– Children are children regardless. The parents may have been a little more insecure because there have been different schools.
Larger families a strength
Pia Rizell, who is a preschool teacher in Vivalla in Örebro, has not noticed that the “pandemic children” are extra shy and thinks that the family situation is an explanation.
Many already have siblings at the same preschool, which creates security.
– If you compare the children here with the children in middle-class areas, many come from large families with many siblings.
The family constellation you have plays a big role, confirms the psychologist Elia Psouni.
– In some families there are siblings and bonus parents and all this counts. There will be relationships for the child. Here it is a strength with larger families.