if you’ve noticed your kids are getting, well, a bit weird, it’s not your imagination. after five months with minimal to no contact with their peers, while many parents work, many children have retreated into digital universes of online school work, tiktok videos and video games. and they’re losing social skills.
“lots of children are acting up because of loss of routine and structure which they need to thrive,” says dr. caroline sullivan, a psychologist and co-director of the child, adolescent and family centre of ottawa (cafco) and a professor at the university of ottawa. some are acting up to gain parental attention as parents are divided and stressed, she says.
part of it is the extremes they’ve had to experience. many kids went from being overscheduled — with gymnastics, soccer and hockey practices multiple times a week — to sitting at home solo. they have also lost out on overnight camps, which have been cancelled in many provinces, birthday parties, family reunions and many other social occasions.
the result is a bunch of undersocialized kids who have trouble looking people in the eye, speaking on the phone or even carrying on a conversation. “the lack of social connection is taking a toll and our children are feeling isolated and lonely,” says sullivan. “online socialization is not the same as you don’t have access to all the nonverbal cues and there is a lack of shared experiences.”