The Impact on Kids From Zoom Instead of Classroom

If you can remember back when you were in school, in elementary, middle school or high school, maybe you can imagine what it’s been like to not go to school for an entire school year or even more.

That’s what thousands and thousands of kids from K thru 12th grade have had to, not just imagine, but really go through it. And a new study suggests it has had more negative impact than we’ve even thought.

The study of public school students found that nearly a quarter of children were described by their parents or caregivers as "stressed, anxious, angry or agitated" when Zoom became their new classroom. And a report released in December, estimated that by the end of last year, the pandemic would likely cause U.S. students, on average, to lose some five to nine months of learning.

None of this is good news. And that’s why so many parents have been pushing and even suing to get schools reopened.

With one third of residents in SD County now fully vaccinated, and new daily cases of the COVID virus the lowest they’ve been since the start of the pandemic 14 months ago, most schools are now finally at least partially open. But not all and not enough to alleviate the concerns of a lot of parents.

There will always be some risk no matter what is done. But these new studies show that keeping kids isolated and out of the classroom could have lingering effects that could take longer than the pandemic to overcome.

(Photo Getty Images)