This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
July 5, 2020 - As schools in the UK continue to reopen, a psychologist has highlighted the devastating impact of children missing out on school due to lockdowns.
Dr. Sam Wass, a psychologist from the University of East London, has been examining the effects of children being stuck at home during the pandemic.
He notes that children miss out on vital 'peer-on-peer' interactions when only engaging with their parents, which are essential for their development.
Dr. Wass explains that interacting with an adult is always asymmetrical, with one person being the child and the other the adult. However, with peer-on-peer interactions, children learn to be persuasive and stand up for themselves in a competition amongst equals.
He adds that learning to be persuasive is a crucial part of the school experience that children can't get at home, and that socially isolated children tend to have lower education attainment.
Dr. Wass also emphasizes the importance of the routine and stability that school brings, particularly for children with disrupted home lives.
He says that school provides a sense of security and predictability, which is essential for children's emotional well-being.
