Pandemic learning loss impacts developmental growth. How parents can help this summer

WASHINGTON (TND) — A new surveysays pandemic learning loss has impacted students' basic developmental skills. This ranges from using scissors, listening during class and getting along with others.

"They never really learned how to appropriately act in a classroom, said Holly Miller, a 5th-grade public school teacher in Florida.

Miller said her students now were primarily learning from home or online during first and second grade, which are extremely formative years for kids. Once they returned to the classroom, they were playing catch up.

"Being that they never had those beginning years they were kind of rushed through it when they came back for third and fourth grade," Miller said.

Another thing she said her students are struggling with is reading and writing.

Learning on a computer in first and second grade is very difficult. Their attention spans are short," said Miller.

Professor of Education at American University Jennifer Steele said another big problem during the pandemic was screen time.

It was how parents managed to get things done when they were working at home with their kids," said Steele.

To help bridge the gap, Steele says parents need to take a more hands-on approach.

"Check in with your kids every day. How are they doing? Connecting with their teachers. Knowing who their friends are," said Steele.

For elementary students, Miller said implementing critical thinking exercises is always a good idea.

Problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, those kinds of things can be done over the summer in more fun ways," said Miller.