Children born at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, like Flora, faced significant challenges due to health and educational disruptions. With medical checkups and school attendance severely affected, the long-term implications for their development are concerning. The pandemic has reshaped early childhood experiences for many in Brazil.
Flora, born on March 11, 2020, during the pandemic’s onset, symbolizes the impact of COVID-19 on children. Her first attempt at speech included the word “stretcher,” demonstrating her early awareness of the disease’s implications. The World Health Organization’s pandemic declaration on the same day marked the beginning of a global crisis that claimed over seven million lives, including approximately 715,000 in Brazil alone.
On her first birthday, Flora celebrated minimally with only her paternal grandparents and a few family friends due to pandemic restrictions. This reflects the broader trend in March, when nearly 250,000 Brazilian births coincided with daily Covid deaths nearing 4,000, emphasizing the challenges families faced.
The early years are crucial for child development, holding significant implications. According to Mariana Luz, CEO of the Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal Foundation, the disruptions caused by the pandemic severely affected children’s growth trajectories. Accessibility to medical checkups and vaccinations saw considerable interruptions, alongside prolonged school closures, with Brazilian students missing an average of a year and a half of education, surpassing the educational interruptions seen in many other countries.
The experiences of children like Flora illustrate the profound impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood development. With disruptions in health services and education, the pandemic has inflicted lasting consequences on millions of young lives. Recognizing and addressing these challenges is crucial for their recovery and future well-being.
Original Source: www1.folha.uol.com.br
