Unfortunately, a recent study from the University of British Columbia’s Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) just delivered some very bad news. Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, the developmental health of kindergarteners has deteriorated drastically. Dr. Martin Guhn, an associate professor at HELP, who led this project, highlighted the time-sensitive importance of community investment in early childhood development. He is one of the co-authors of our report, “Early Years Disrupted.”
The findings serve as a call to action, showing that the rate of young children who are vulnerable has risen to alarming rates. Dr. Guhn stated, “This is the highest vulnerability rate we have seen since we began collecting this data 24 years ago.” This finding underscores the profound impact that the pandemic has had on the developmental trajectory of children during their formative years.
Given by Dr. Guhn to highlight the importance of early childhood in shaping lifelong outcomes for health and happiness. He emphasized that “the early years set the foundation for everything that follows.” The report shows how pandemic disruptions to children’s early education and support networks have negatively impacted their development. These transitions have taken a huge toll on their social, emotional, and cognitive development.
In her address, Dr. Guhn championed a proactive mindset to meet these threats head on. If we want to make a difference, then we need to invest in those early years,” he declared. He pointed out that societies that allocate resources to communities and provide support to families with young children tend to experience better long-term outcomes. This investment is not only crucial for individual children, but it’s in the best interests of society.
The data points provided in this HELP report should be a wake-up call for state and federal policymakers and local community leaders alike. Incredibly, children are subjected to developmental disasters at every turn. We desperately need more focused interventions and wrap-around support systems that promote strong families and healthy early childhood development.
