Child development specialist Professor Maureen Samms-Vaughan is warning that children will need special attention in the coming months as research has shown that the strict measures implemented to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus could have a lasting negative psychological effect on them.
However, we do have some research from a while back when we had the H1N1 (swine flu) and we do have some early research out of Wuhan, China,” Samms-Vaughan said during the recent Chooselife International webinar series, adding that the pandemic could leave families suffering from post-traumatic stress.
Samms-Vaughan is calling on parents to spend time playing with, reading to and talking things through with their children during what is likely the most challenging time in their lives yet.
“Right now, I tell everyone that their (children’s) mental health is more important than the learning (education).
Research shows that the greatest concern of Jamaican parents during the pandemic is the education of their children, even more so than the economic problems.
