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By Rachel Lawler

from the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) argues that the Covid-19 pandemic has “negatively impacted” children’s physical development.

The report, titled Growing up in the Covid-19 pandemic An evidence review of the impact of pandemic life on physical development in the early years, outlines how lockdown and closed services have impacted children in the early years, including vulnerable children and says there have been a “substantial changes” to children’s lifestyles and behaviour as a result of the pandemic.

Concerns highlighted by the report include:

• decreases in physical activity and increases in sedentary behaviour (screen time)
• changes in diet (increases in processed foods, sweets and salty snacks)
• increased risk of vitamin D deficiency
• increased food insecurity
• positive and negative experiences of breastfeeding
• decreased oral healthcare utilisation
• reduced vaccination rates
• changes in sleep patterns

The report also highlighted that the pandemic has “disproportionately and adversely” impacted vulnerable children, putting their physical development at greater risk.

While there was evidence for children with a range of vulnerabilities being impacted by the pandemic, the EIF said the evidence was most consistent for children from low-income and ethnic minority families.

The EIF has recommended further research into the impact of lockdowns on children's development, stating said: "Without prioritisation of evidence-based policies and services aimed at supporting physical activity, promoting food security, good quality diet and nutrition, breastfeeding, oral health, vaccinations, and sleep, the long-term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic are likely to hinder the early physical development of this generation of young children and lead to increased health risks and inequalities in their later lives."

Education recovery
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the ��������, commented: “We are very concerned about the extent to which children’s physical development has been affected by the pandemic. While we would welcome more research into the impact of lockdowns on children’s early years, practitioners have been reporting notable differences in children’s physical development since reopening their settings in June of last year – especially in urban areas where homes are often smaller and there are fewer opportunities to play outside.

“To date, education recovery funding has been largely focussed on primary and secondary schools, with a small amount of investment in early literacy and professional development for early educators. However, the youngest children have lived much of their lives under Covid-19 restrictions, and these have affected almost every aspect of normal childhood.

"Given the incredibly broad impact of those restrictions, it is essential that the government offers more financial and practical support for early educators to deliver a comprehensive, well-rounded recovery programme, that recognises the unique character of early years, including the huge importance of physical development in a young child's life.” 

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