USA TODAY: Pandemic Babies Are Behind After Years of Stress, Isolation Affected Brain Development

According to numerous studies, children born during the pandemic score lower on average on tests of gross motor, fine motor, social and problem-solving skills compared with those born before COVID-19. These children are more prone to certain behaviors, such as outbursts, physical aggression and separation anxiety.

Experts say children have had uneven access to health and child care and little exposure to the outside world, putting them at a disadvantage. Supplemental learning programs like Sylvan Learning have been working hard to get children back on track.

“We often get this question of, ‘Is this child pandemic behind, or are they actually behind?’” said Emily Levitt, Vice President of Education at Sylvan Learning. “And getting to the correct answer for each child is not always easy.”

While the tutoring demand is high nationwide, Sylvan Learning has seen the most significant surge among children in the pre-kindergarten–second grade level.