Scottish Toddlers' Development Dips During Lockdown

A recent study led by the University of Edinburgh has uncovered a significant increase in developmental concerns among toddlers in Scotland during the Covid-19 lockdown. Health visitor reports on 258,000 children between March 2020 and August 2021 indicated that the proportion of toddlers with at least one developmental issue rose by up to 6.6%.

Researchers suggest that reduced social interaction, mask-wearing obscuring facial cues, and limited access to health visitors may have contributed to these delays in areas such as speech, language, and emotional growth. These concerns remained elevated even after the removal of lockdown measures.

The findings, published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, emphasize the need for targeted support for children affected by pandemic restrictions. The study also advises future pandemic planning to consider the developmental impacts of public health measures on young children.