---
title: "USA TODAY: Pandemic Babies Are Behind After Years of Stress, Isolation Affected Brain Development"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/4c9d594c-83bd-4622-966a-6fac684a00b0
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/usa-today-pandemic-babies-are-behind-after-years-of-stress-isolation-affected-brain-development-2719073
category: "General"
published: 2022-07-06T22:17:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:10:25.817Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/99dbdce9713c66b045139779659e55592777.jpg
---

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

**TL;DR:** 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. Supplemental learning programs like Sylvan Learning are working to get children back on track.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2022-07-06. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/usa-today-pandemic-babies-are-behind-after-years-of-stress-isolation-affected-brain-development-2719073).*

## Story

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.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- General (sector)
- Sylvan Learning (company)
- pandemic impact (topic)
- USA TODAY (company)
- child development (topic)
- supplemental learning (topic)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/usa-today-pandemic-babies-are-behind-after-years-of-stress-isolation-affected-brain-development-2719073). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/4c9d594c-83bd-4622-966a-6fac684a00b0).