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Study: COVID Lockdowns Harm Preschoolers' Cognitive Skills

2/1/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking study from UC Merced, led by Professor Rose Scott, reveals the profound effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on preschoolers' cognitive abilities. Children aged 3½ to 5½, particularly from low-income families, experienced a significant drop in their understanding of false beliefs, underscoring the pandemic's devastating impact on early childhood development.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking study from UC Merced, led by Professor Rose Scott, reveals the profound effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on preschoolers' cognitive abilities. Children aged 3½ to 5½, particularly from low-income families, experienced a significant drop in their understanding of false beliefs, underscoring the pandemic's devastating impact on early childhood development.