You’ve probably heard that kids aren’t at much of a risk of serious complications from getting COVID-19. While that may be true, there’s a lot more to think about when it comes to the effects of the virus than simply getting sick.
Let’s talk about illness first though. Research shows that children are not getting as severely sick with COVID-19 as other populations. However, because schools tend to be a breeding ground for illness, simply being in the classroom increases the risk. With a vaccination, your child is safer in a school setting and you have some peace of mind when it comes to their general health.
Now let’s address the other issues. All across the world, children are spending less time than ever in the classroom and more time at home. Remote learning limits your child’s access to social interaction, but also reduces the effectiveness of lessons. Watching them on Zoom simply isn’t the same. This will have profound effects in the years to come as children return to school without the skills they should have been building all along.
New research shows that children’s face perception abilities are seriously hindered when teachers and peers wear a mask all day. Face perception is important for learning social cues and promoting healthy neurological development. When teachers and peers wear masks, children aren’t able to effectively pick up on emotions. Not only can this harm a child’s self-esteem, but it can also lead to behavior problems.
When children aren’t vaccinated, they may be excluded from participation in team sports, after school activities and other parts of “normal” life that are necessary to healthy growth and development. When you vaccinate your child, you give them the chance to engage in interactions with peers, which is vital for their mental health.
A vaccination or a booster shot means that your child can enjoy childhood and progress through each state of development to successfully reach adulthood. While the concerns that go along with the effect of the pandemic on your children will continue, a vaccine is one way to help your child thrive.