If my child had minimal social interactions over the past year, will they be behind in their social skills? What if my child had some interactions but it looked different because of masks and social distancing protocols? Can my child regain the social skills they may have lost over the past year? Will my child be more anxious now when it comes to building friendships? These are all common questions and concerns many parents have.
It’s those moments, on Saturday mornings when it’s too dark and chilly to venture out, and then after dinner, when the day has tugged at their feelings, that what a child might need most is a story. A story, and you.
As we emerge from this pandemic, I’m surprised by the many emotions I’m experiencing as we move into a new phase of reconnection. I have felt relief, optimism, and excitement, blended with fear, foreboding, and a side serving of judgement. I have had moments of feeling socially awkward, exhausted, and stressed about navigating larger group settings and deciding what I am personally comfortable with. Do these feelings resonate with you?
This article has been percolating in my head for a while. The thought of writing it has been daunting because the topic is enormous and there are many angles from which to approach the many ways that this pandemic has touched all aspects of everyone’s lives - socially, emotionally, physically, and financially.
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